Dr. History's Tales of the Old West

Ranchers opposed, but then accepted barbed wire. Cattle and horses could be injured, but it was cheap. Two hundred mile "drift" fences would keep cattle from drifting North or South. In 1880 40,000 tons of wire was sold. Eventually there were 400 different types of barbed wire. The XIT ranch had 1500 miles of fence. Problems arose with armed "fence cutters" who usually went out at night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before fences, line riders were to keep cattle from wandering. Some ranchers spent thousands to build board fences to preserve their breeding stock. Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire. Ranchers were skeptical, but eventually accepted it as a less expensive way to control cattle. Trouble was coming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cattlemen discovered that the Northern Plains could support raising cattle. Most winters cattle could survive on the nutritious grass. Immigrants on the Oregon Trail traded two worn out cattle for one healthy animal. Cattlemen wintered the worn-out animals in Montana, then returned with healthy cattle to trade with the immigrants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Justin started repairing boots, then making his own. His wife Annie developed a self-measuring kit for mail orders. John Stetson mass produced hats, “Boss of the Plains” was a favorite. Immigrant Levi Strauss imported clothing, he joined with Jacob Davis to use copper rivets to reinforce their pants, which became the “501.” Early trousers were made of wool or canvas. Frontier dress with fringes was a part of western design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Millions of acres of prairie was ideal for raising cattle. Richard King and John Chisum had the largest ranches with thousands of cattle and horses. New homesteaders lived in one room shacks or dugouts until they could build a proper ranch house. A ranch with a good water supply was essential. The rancher had to design his own brand and how to mark his cattle with a "wattle" and an earmark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The best known Kansas cattle towns were Abilene, Dodge City and Wichita. The towns boomed with the arrival of the herds. Cowboys were ready for new clothes, a hot bath and entertainment. Some lost their wages and headed back to Texas, most were wiser, moral and honest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sir Earnest Shackelton made three expeditions to the Antarctic. His ship, the Endurance, was crushed in the sea ice on his third voyage. He sailed to Elephant Island and left 22 of his men to shelter until he could make his way back. He sailed 800 miles in a small whaling boat to South Georgia Island to a whaling station. After four and a half months he was able to rescue his men left on Elephant Island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We had an amazing trip to Chile and on to King George Island in the Antarctic. Whales, seals, penguins and beautiful icebergs. We were in the area where Sir Earnest Shackleton’s crew spent time on Elephant Island before being rescued. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After striking it rich in Virginia City, Montana, Story financed the first cattle drive from Texas to Montana in 1866. He faced all the dangers and struggles of moving cattle through Indian territory to bring Texas longhorns and Texas cowboys to the miners in Montana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Obsidian Cliff in Yellowstone Park is the largest deposit of obsidian in North America. Native Americans have used this for thousands of years for scrapers, spears and arrow heads. More than two dozen tribes would peacefully gather obsidian in this war free zone. Pieces of this obsidian has been found as far as the East coast and central America. Knapping, the process of making arrow heads is still used today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices