A trip back in time to explore The Wild West!

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About this Event

 

The Wild West, includes the geography, history, folklore, and cultural expression of life in the forward wave of American. It began after the Civil War in 1865 and ended around 1895. The California Gold Rush of the 1840s and '50s attracted hundreds of thousands of able-bodied men looking to strike it rich, which sprouted small shanty towns around the West seemingly overnight — most ridden with violence, disease, runaway criminals, and brothels. The untamed territories were noted for their lawlessness, which gave rise to wild, rowdy, unrestrained, disorderly, and unruly behavior.

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But what was it like to live in one of these towns, and how accurately are they portrayed in movies and pop culture? It's time to explore a wild and lawless period in American history. Belly up to the bar and have a drink in the saloon, meet Billy The Kid, Jesse James, and littler known outlaws like Hoodoo Brown; learn about the frontier skirmishes between the pioneers and the Indians, and visit the ghost towns, mining camps, and cow towns on the prairie. More than just a glimpse of the past, this webinar will transport you into the adventurous times of the Wild Wild West.

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Led by historian and Sharon Historical Society president Ron Ketelsen, our virtual road will explore the stories and remnants of former "Wild West" towns during the Gold Rush years, which attracted everyone from miners and businessmen, to cowboys and criminals, famous madams, to everyone in between looking for new opportunities.

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Stick around afterward for a Q&A with Ron — any and all questions about the Wild West are welcomed and encouraged!