Stories of the American Wild West have captured imaginations for decades. Western films and television shows are some of the most popular in history.
The adventures of cowboys, outlaws, bandits, and Native Americans make up the majority of Wild West entertainment. While many of the historical figures of the Wild West are male, several women stand out for their contributions (both good and bad).
The timeline of the American West era typically spans the years of 1865 to 1900. The women listed here all lived during this period, which is characterized by the expansion of the railroad system, mass settlement into the western United States, and use of cowboys to move cattle.
The following women are cowgirls, outlaws, gamblers, and other colorful characters of the Wild West period.
Most of the women in this category are remembered for their equestrian skills like riding, roping, and shooting. Many competed or toured the country showing off their skills.
While imperfect humans like the rest of us, the following women had overall good public personas and balanced their more "masculine" skills with feminine characteristics.
1832-1914
Mary Fields was a hero of the Cascade, Montana area. She is remembered as the first African American woman to work as a mail carrier.
Mary Fields was born into slavery but was freed after the Civil War. She made her way to Cascade, Montana in 1885 and worked for St. Peter's Mission.
"Stagecoach Mary" delivered mail in all weather conditions, never missing a day of work. To protect herself in the wild Montana landscape, Fields carried several firearms at all times.
1852-1903
Calamity Jane is one of the most well-known figures on our list. Her life is surrounded by legend, but what we do know is that she was born Martha Jane Canary in Missouri.
Calamity Jane migrated north to Montana, where she lived a life of exciting adventures. She took her skills as a frontierswoman on the road with the famous Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
Despite her gruff exterior and masculine clothing preferences, Calamity Jane was a kind, loving, and nurturing soul who helped people whenever she could.
1860-1926
Another famous figure is Annie Oakley. Born Phoebe Ann Moses to a poor Ohio family, Annie Oakley first learned to shoot by hunting food for her family.
She won her first shooting competition at age 15, which launched her career with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. She toured around the country and abroad beginning in 1885.
Oakley was recognized for her accuracy and precision, earning the nickname "Little Sure Shot." Oakley was a consistent performer who formed a rivalry with Lillian Smith, another young sharpshooter (described next).
Annie Oakley's time on tour ended after a train accident. She went on to teach thousands of women shooting and self-defense, which she was passionate about.
1871-1930
Lillian Smith was another member of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. She was born in California and started shooting at age 7. She joined the show in 1886 at age 15 and formed a rivalry with Annie Oakley.
Because the girls were both young shooters, they competed against each other in many shows. After performing badly in a show for Queen Victoria and suffering bad press because of it, Lillian Smith quit the tour and joined smaller shows.
1869-1936
May Lillie was a talented sharpshooter and equestrian. She married Gordon William Lillie, better known as Pawnee Bill the Wild West performer.
Pawnee Bill gave a target rifle and pony to May Lillie as wedding presents. These gifts summarized Lillie's interests. She continued to excel at shooting and riding her entire life.
The duo eventually settled down and established a buffalo herd. The ranch was largely managed by May Lillie while her husband toured with Wild West shows.
1885-1940
Lucille Mulhall was one of the first women to earn the title of "cowgirl." Mulhall was born in Missouri and was one of the first women to compete against men in roping and riding events.
She starred in several Wild West shows and was known for her timing, and balance. Audiences were fascinated by her abilities despite her small size.
Teddy Roosevelt recognized Lucille Mulhall's talents by calling her a cowgirl. Mulhall is immortalized in the Rodeo Hall of Fame and the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
1899-1988
Kitty Canutt was a cowgirl through and through. Born Katherine Derre in New York, Kitty Canutt became a professional bronc rider, a rare career choice for a woman even today.
She was called "Diamond Kitty" due to the diamond set in her front tooth. She was known to pawn the diamond when needed to enter bronc riding contests.
Canutt is remembered as an all around champion cowgirl who went against the grain to do what she loved.
In contrast to the overall innocent women above, the following historical figures are remembered for their crimes and unladylike behavior.
These women earned a living through prostitution, theft, and other elicit means. Many had relationships with some of the most notorious outlaws of their day.
1813-1866
Sarah Bowman, "The Great Western," was an innkeeper and madam who rose to fame for her unconventional appearance and bravery.
Bowman stood 6 feet tall at a time when most women were quite petite. She was fluent in Spanish and worked in a variety of settings that other women avoided.
During the Mexican-American War, Bowman worked as a laundress and cook. She continued to prepare food even during the Siege of Fort Brown.
Though shot at, Sarah Bowman continued to serve the soldiers in the fort and carried her own musket for defense.
1829-1879
Eleanor Dumont was a gambler and madam who lived in several towns in the Wild West. She opened a gambling parlor in Nevada City, California during the Gold Rush and attracted customers because she was a woman owner and dealer.
After the Gold Rush lost momentum, Dumont moved from city to city and gambled to earn her living. She became a brothel madam in the 1860s.
Dumont was known as "Madame Mustache" due to the light hair on her upper lip.
Dumont's luck as a gambler wore off in her later years. She was conned out of money by a boyfriend and made gambling mistakes that eventually led her to suicide.
1844-1934
Lottie Deno or Carlotta Thompkins Thurmond, was a gambler in the Wild West. She was born to a wealthy family that toured European gambling houses.
Taking what she learned from her family vacations, Lottie Deno gambled to earn a living after the death of her father.
She moved to San Antonio and met Frank Thurmond, a gambling house manager. Lottie and Frank toured gambling houses across the southwest, and Lottie's skills earned her the title of "The Virtuous Gambler."
1850-1940
Mary Katherine Haroney, or "Big Nose Kate," was a gambler, outlaw, and prostitute. She was the common-law wife of the infamous Doc Holliday.
Haroney's family immigrated to Iowa from Hungary. She ran away from home at age 16 to St. Louis and then Texas. Big Nose Kate met Doc Holliday in 1877 and the two had a turbulent relationship as outlaws.
1848-1889
Belle Starr was a female outlaw associated with the James Younger Gang. She specialized in horse theft.
Starr married Sam Starr, a Cherokee man, and lived with him in Indian Territory. She honed her outlaw "skills" while living with her husband.
Belle Starr was shot while riding home from a neighbor's house. Her murder remains unsolved.
1876-1961
Laura Bullion was the only female member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch gang that was intimately involved in their crimes. She was born in Texas and started working as a prostitute at age 15.
She met members of Butch Cassidy's gang at work and earned their trust by keeping their identities a secret. Future gang member Ben Kilpatrick pursued Bullion and when he joined the gang in 1898, Bullion did too.
Laura Bullion's jobs as a gang member included securing supplies, stealing horses, and robbing trains.
She often disguised herself as a boy to evade the authorities.
Bullion famously helped the gang in the 1901 Great Northern Railway Robbery. She supplied getaway horses but was later caught in St. Louis with a suitcase full of the money stolen from the train.
Bullion served her sentence and then lived a quiet life as a seamstress.
1878-?
Etta Place is a mysterious figure of the Wild West. She worked as a housekeeper and prostitute in the 1890s before meeting Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
She married the Sundance Kid and was one of the few women to spend time in the gang's Robber's Roost hideout in Utah.
Place and her husband traveled to and from Argentina several times before Place disappeared completely. Much of her life is still a complete mystery.
No one knows when or how she eventually passed away.
1878-1955
Rose Dunn, or "Rose of Cimarron," was a female outlaw who learned riding, roping, and shooting from her outlaw brothers. She became romantically involved with George Newcomb of the Wild Bunch gang.
Dunn hid out with Newcomb after a shootout and lived as an outlaw for much of her life.
Newcomb was eventually killed by Rose Dunn's brothers. Some accused her of setting him up, but Dunn denied these claims.
Dunn left the outlaw life after getting remarried to a politician.
1871-1955
Pearl Hart was born in Canada but became famous for her stagecoach robberies in Arizona. Hart worked as a cook and prostitute in Arizona before learning that her mother was ill.
To raise money, Hart robbed a stagecoach in 1899. She took the equivalent of $15,000 in today's money. Hart's crime was one of the last stagecoach robberies in American history.
The fact that she was a woman caused a media frenzy. She escaped from jail and was later found not guilty when she stood trial.
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