On January 16, 1843, Sarah Rosetta Wakeman was born. A woman who bravely served in the Union Army disguised as a man, “Lyons Wakeman.” Her letters reveal courage, sacrifice, and a fierce will to serve. Read her story: www.legendsofamerica.com/we-sarahwake...

Heading west out of Tucumcari on old Route 66, the road runs beside the railroad. Sandstone ridges break up the horizon, and the closer you get to Santa Rosa, the more ghost towns appear: Montoya, Newkirk, Cuervo. Adventure through the Mother Road’s past. 👉 www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-ghostwest...

When a post office was established on January 16, 1885, it was called Crystal Springs, Kansas, named for nearby water springs, making it a good watering stop for the railroad. The post office closed in 1976, and only few residents remain. More on Crystal Springs👇 legendsofkansas.com/crystal-spri...

At the mouth of the Miami River lies the Miami Circle, a 38-ft limestone ring carved by the Tequesta over 1,700 years ago. It was named a National Historic Landmark on January 16, 2009. Read more about the Tequesta Tribe of Florida www.legendsofamerica.com/tequesta-tri...

The Chippewa, or Ojibwe/Anishinaabe, have shaped the Great Lakes region for centuries. From the Midewiwin Society to their fierce conflicts and alliances, their story is vast, complex, and deeply influential. More on the Chippewa People 🔗 www.legendsofamerica.com/na-chippewa/

Hot Springs, Arkansas isn’t just famous for its steaming springs — it’s a place where ancient legends, healing waters, luxury bathhouses, baseball greats, and even gangsters all left their mark. The story runs deeper than you think… Dive into the history: www.legendsofamerica.com/hot-springs-...

One of California’s oldest, deepest, & richest gold mines, Empire Mine in Grass Valley powered the state’s mining boom for over a century. Visitors today can explore the mine yard, historic buildings, and the beautiful Bourn Cottage. Explore the history: www.legendsofamerica.com/empire-mine/

From rags to riches… to ruin. Colorado’s infamous Tabor Triangle had it all — silver fortunes, forbidden romance, high‑society scandal, and a fall as dramatic as the climb. 👉 Dive into the legend of the West’s most captivating true stories: www.legendsofamerica.com/co-tabor/

Settled in 1870, the post office was moved to Thayer, Kansas, from Prairie du Chien, Ks, on January 13, 1871. That year, the town was incorporated as a city, and within 10 years, Thayer had a population of 500. Not far from what it is today: legendsofkansas.com/thayer-kansas/

The town’s name was changed from Amy to Busby on January 12, 1885, for Ruben Busby, one of the early settlers. Busby, KS, was never big, but at its peak, it had two general stores, two blacksmith shops, a hotel, restaurant, post office, and a school. More: legendsofkansas.com/busby-kansas/

From booming railroad town to Route 66 getaway, and home to one of the most unique Trail of Tears memorials in America. Jerome, Missouri, has stone ruins, forgotten resorts, and a folk-art tribute born from one man’s vision. Explore the past in Jerome: www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-jerometea...

Parsons, Kansas, rose from the prairie in 1870 and quickly became one of the great railroad hubs of the Midwest. 🚂 From coal mines to streetcars, and the last Kodachrome processor in the world, this town’s history is packed. Read more about Parsons 🔗 legendsofkansas.com/parsons-kans...

Ruby, AZ, isn’t just a ghost town; it’s one of the bloodiest chapters in Southwest history. From Apache threats to double murders, and a mine that once boomed with 2,000 residents, Ruby saw it all. Explore the history of mining, murder, and mayhem: 🔗 www.legendsofamerica.com/az-ruby/

On January 11, 1755 (or 1757), Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies. From humble beginnings to Founding Father, his brilliance shaped America’s financial system, the Constitution, and the early Republic. Explore his remarkable life & legacy www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-alexander...

From the Green Corn Festival to Vision Quests and Powwows, Native American ceremonies reflect centuries of resilience, spirituality, and connection to the natural world. Take a closer look at the traditions that shaped generations. 🔗 www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ceremonies/

On January 10, 1901, the Texas landscape and the world changed in an instant. A roar, a blast, and a 150‑foot column of oil signaled the birth of the modern petroleum age. Spindletop ignited a boom that reshaped industry, and made Texas an Oil Titan: www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-spindletop/

From an 1884 federal boarding school to a modern tribal university shaped by resilience, culture, and community — Haskell Indian Nations University has lived many lives. Explore the powerful and inspiring history behind this important Kansas institution. 🔗 legendsofkansas.com/haskell-univ...

Where cultures, trade, and conflict shaped the Southwest, Pecos National Historical Park tells a 1,000‑year story. Explore ruins, the mission church, the Santa Fe Trail, and the Glorieta Pass Civil War Battlefield. Discover the past where it happened: 🔗 www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-pecospark/

Tucked along the Cottonwood River, Elmdale, Kansas, once bustled with mills, merchants, and a booming railroad stop. Today, only echoes remain. Discover the rise, decline, and quiet endurance of this semi‑ghost town: legendsofkansas.com/elmdale-kans...

On January 9, 1908, the 298-acre tract that makes up Muir Woods was declared a National Monument. Ancient Redwoods here have survived fires, storms, and centuries of change. Explore the story behind this timeless grove: www.legendsofamerica.com/muir-woods/

January 8, 1858: “A drove of fourteen camels under the management of Lieutenant Beale arrived in Los Angeles." Did you know the U.S. military once tried using Camels? Read about Camel Caravans in the American Desert 👉 www.legendsofamerica.com/we-camelcara...

On January 7, 1865, the first spark of the infamous Hatfield–McCoy feud was struck with the murder of Asa Harmon McCoy. What followed became one of America’s most legendary family conflicts. Dive into the true story behind the feud: www.legendsofamerica.com/hatfields-mc...

What rises from the Texas plains like a mirage—and is said to vanish just as quickly? 👀 Fort Phantom Hill holds a past built on hardship, fire, frontier legends… and ghosts that still wander the ruins. Dare to explore its mysteries: www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-fortphant...

On January 7, 1886, a tiny Kansas crossroads got a new name, Stark, and a surprising future. From railroads to fires to a town moved from miles away, its story is anything but small. Discover the history ➜ legendsofkansas.com/stark-kansas/

Who shaped America from the shadows? From fearless innovators to unsung trailblazers, history is full of names we should know, but don’t. Discover the hidden figures who changed our nation in ways textbooks rarely mention. 👉 www.legendsofamerica.com/hidden-figur...

Chanute, Kansas wasn’t born as one town. It was forged from four rival settlements, a railroad feud, and one visionary engineer. 🚂Discover how New Chicago, Tioga, Alliance & Chicago Junction merged into a booming Kansas hub.👉 Dive into the full story: legendsofkansas.com/chanute-kans...

Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park in Oklahoma is one of Route 66’s most unforgettable folk‑art stops. Home to the world’s largest concrete totem pole, built by Galloway between 1937 and 1948, the park is a vibrant tribute to Native American imagery. More 👇 www.legendsofamerica.com/ok-totempole...

Searchlight, NV, began with a gold strike in 1897, and for a time, this rugged desert camp boomed bigger than Las Vegas. From the Quartette Mine to its narrow‑gauge railroad, Searchlight’s story is pure Old West grit. Explore Searchlight, Nevada: 🔗 www.legendsofamerica.com/nv-searchlig...

Long before typewriters or printing presses reached Cherokee lands, Sequoyah, a silversmith & warrior, crafted a written syllabary that brought literacy to an entire nation. At one point, he and his daughter were even accused of witchcraft for it. 👉 www.legendsofamerica.com/na-sequoyah/

From a frontier trading post to a thriving Santa Fe Trail stop, Lakin, Kansas, has a story shaped by river crossings, railroads, and resilient pioneers. Discover the town’s early struggles, its colorful characters, and its rugged history. Read more 👉 legendsofkansas.com/lakin-kansas/

On this first day of a brand‑new year, it’s worth remembering the bold spirits who once chased new beginnings on the open prairie. 🌾 The Homestead Act changed everything - opening the door to opportunity, hardship, and a whole new American landscape. 👉 www.legendsofamerica.com/ne-homestead/

From the Mojave Desert to global industry, California’s borax mines shaped history, powered innovation, and even inspired iconic Western lore. Step into the world of “white gold” and the people who carved it from the desert. 🔗 Read more: www.legendsofamerica.com/ca-boraxmini...

🌾 Once a bustling Lincoln County community, Vesper, Kansas, rose from pioneer grit, railroad dreams, and the determination of early settlers. The Post Office closed December 30, 1966. Today, only traces remain. Discover the town that time nearly erased: legendsofkansas.com/vesper-kansas/

December 30, 1853, the Gadsden Purchase was signed — a deal that reshaped the southern border of the United States and Mexico. Explore how this $10 million agreement changed the map of North America. 🔗 Read more: www.legendsofamerica.com/gadsden-purc...

December 29, 1890, the tragedy at Wounded Knee marked the final, devastating chapter of the Indian Wars. A peaceful surrender turned into unimaginable loss, forever shaping the Lakota people. Explore the history, the aftermath, and the legacy 🔗 www.legendsofamerica.com/sd-woundedkn...

In the 1940s, the Meadow Gold sign rose above 11th & Lewis in Tulsa, becoming a glowing Route 66 landmark for 60 years. When the building was sold in 2004, the sign was nearly lost, but preservation groups stepped in. See our Oklahoma RT. 66 Gallery 📸 photos.legendsofamerica.com/oklahomarout...

On December 28, 1835, Major Dade and his men were ambushed in one of the deadliest moments of the Seminole Wars. Today, they rest beneath the historic Dade Pyramids at St. Augustine National Cemetery. More behind one of America’s oldest military memorials: www.legendsofamerica.com/st-augustine...

Once the largest town in Choctaw Nation, Doaksville boomed with traders, soldiers, steamboats, and later witnessed the final Confederate surrender west of the Mississippi. Step into the rise, fall, and rediscovery of this forgotten Oklahoma capital. 🔗 www.legendsofamerica.com/ok-doaksville/

Lost to the Arkansas River, Chouteau’s Island once stood as a fierce landmark on the Santa Fe Trail; a site of battles, buried silver, and survival. Today, only a marker remains, but the stories are unforgettable. Learn more about this vanished island ➜ legendsofkansas.com/chouteaus-is...

Born December 26, 1682, Calico Jack Rackham wasn’t the most fearsome pirate of the Caribbean, but he was one of the most memorable. Known for his cotton “calico” clothes, Rackham sailed with two legendary women pirates: Anne Bonny and Mary Read. More 👇 www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-jackrackh...

Step back into a Christmas where blizzards howled, gifts were handmade, and a tin cup could light up a child’s whole world. 🎄✨ Discover how pioneers kept the holiday spirit alive on the rugged frontier. 👉 www.legendsofamerica.com/we-christmas/ From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

🌾 A starving Cheyenne village... ⚔️ A mysterious Coyote Man... 🐃 A woman whose power could summon the buffalo or make them vanish. The legend of Ehyophsta is one of the most haunting and powerful stories in Cheyenne tradition. Read the full legend 👇 www.legendsofamerica.com/gift-of-ehyo...

Hartland, KS, boomed in the 1880s with hotels, newspapers, a bustling Main Street, and even a county‑seat victory. But fires, politics, and shifting fortunes emptied the town. Today, only a lonely cemetery marks its place. Explore its story 👇 legendsofkansas.com/hartland-kan...

December 24, 1809, Christopher “Kit” Carson was born in Kentucky, destined to become one of the most legendary (and controversial) figures of the American West. From trapping and guiding to war, diplomacy, and survival, his life reads like an epic. More 👇 www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-kitcarson/

Few old west legends loomed as large as John Chisum. Before his death on December 22, 1884, he built one of the biggest independent cattle empires and became a key figure in New Mexico's Lincoln County War. Chisum’s story is pure frontier grit. 👇 www.legendsofamerica.com/we-johnchisum/

⛏️✨ Tucked in the shadow of Virginia City, Silver City, NV, played a major role in the Comstock Lode. From the first gold nugget in 1850 to its bustling days as a freighting hub, this quiet town has a history full of grit and frontier ingenuity. Learn More 🔗 www.legendsofamerica.com/nv-silvercity/

December 22, 1885, the Kansas settlement of Harwoodville officially became Fargo Springs. The town would soon win, and lose, a fierce county‑seat war, and by the time the railroad chose a different route, Fargo Springs was already fading into history. Learn more👇 legendsofkansas.com/fargo-kansas...

Before her death, December 22, 1812, Sacagawea’s courage shaped one of America’s greatest expeditions. Kidnapped as a child, reunited with her brother as an interpreter, and guiding Lewis & Clark, her story is one of resilience and quiet power. Learn More www.legendsofamerica.com/na-sacagawea/

Small towns hold big surprises, and Casey, IL proves it. From giant rocking chairs to record‑breaking roadside whimsy, this little community has turned “world’s largest” into an art form. More in our Photo Travel Blog 👇 photos.legendsofamerica.com/blog/2021/10... #quirkey #america #largeststuff

Born on December 19, 1818, Jim Baker was one of the most colorful figures of the Old West, working as a trapper, scout, explorer, guide, soldier, rancher, and mine owner throughout his life. He was one of General John C. Fremont’s favorite scouts. More 👇 www.legendsofamerica.com/jim-baker-fr...