We don’t blame you if you think you already know everything there is to know about Wild West. After all, the American frontier has been described in books, movies, and documentaries countless times. However, we believe there are some facts about the period that you probably didn’t know.
Gun Control Was Enforced in Many Town
It is easy to get the impression that everyone in the Wild West carried a gun. However, many towns enforced strict gun control during that time. Newcomers were required to deposit their guns at a sheriff’s office upon arrival, and only residents could carry them freely.
Whiskey Was Awful
Whiskey was a choice of drink in the Wild West. However, it wasn’t exactly something many people enjoyed drinking. Due to the drink’s popularity and lack of control, many bars actually mix it with water or distill it from poor-quality ingredients.
Camels Roamed the Wild West
During the 19th century, the United States Army decided to establish a United States Camel Corps. They acquired 33 camels with the intention of using them for transportation in the Southwestern United States. The experiment was quite successful, but it was abandoned after the start of the Civil War.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Wasn’t All That Spectacular
The famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, is considered one of the most famous gunfights in Wild West history. However, the clash between lawmen led by Virgil Earp and a group of outlaws, which included Billy Claiborne, wasn’t all that spectacular. It lasted less than a minute and didn’t even take place at O.K. Corral but in front of a photography studio that was located six doors west of the O.K. Corral.