While Buffalo Roamed: The Wild West History of Colorado
History of Colorado’s (Old West) frontier days, western history, wild west, with the introduction to the remaining landmarks (while the buffalo and native Americans ruled the plains).
Once gold is discovered in west Kansas Territory, the western adventurers, settlers, miners, bandits, gamblers, farmers, ranchers, city builders and politicians stopped in Denver; from there these pioneers spread like ants into an unknown wilderness that would evolve into the state of Colorado.
Hero’s and villains, trials and hangings, escapes and adventure, fortunes made and lost - murder, poetry and even song - from the initial evidence left for us...
This podcast is produced locally, high in the Rocky Mountains where this history - and these stories originated.
The show is best enjoyed by listening to the episodes in order, and while not necessary, the full wild western experience is gained in this manner - full immersion - the history (stories) are in chronological order.
Our podcast will entertain and enlighten, the listener will notice much quotation from the mid to late 1800s; think of the quotations as the guests of the show. At first the language and vocabulary of the frontiersman and women will seem awkward, trust me: YOU WILL ABSORB the cadence and character and learn some new words - it will quicken your thought (I believe that - give it a solid try and see for yourself).
The episodes together form a rounded story of frontier life. The stages of civilization of the mid 1800s also translate to California, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Mew Mexico, Wyoming and more. Starting from campers, gold miners, ranchers…
Colorado is wonderful example of western frontier settlement. Its relative youth helps the historian or enthusiast, as does the general gold excitement which attracted so many from all over the world. Those involved in Colorado’s settlement felt that is was quite a special event in American history, which it was, and thankfully many early arrivals wrote copious notes - there’s a mountain of first hand primary source evidence. We don’t want to lose these stories, and while Colorado history is easy to obtain and read, it’s shuffled so that the storytellers or historians who didn’t have the benefits of modern research techniques, naturally missed some details we can (and have) recover(ed) today. Combine this with the author who has first hand knowledge of the particular locations and you can't help but learn a little something along the way - we shoot for “total immersion” - or something like that!
Listen on:
Episodes
Sunday Sep 28, 2025
Sunday Sep 28, 2025
A "lazy" Georgian (John H. Gregory), professional miner, hears about gold near Pike's Peak and arrives early in 1859. The Georgian did not light the fuse of Colorado, but he placed the charge perfectly, the result and aftermath directly responsible for the West Kansas gold rush (Colorado gold rush) AND the expedited formation of the area from West Kansas Territory to Colorado. This "lazy" man changes the whole game and puts this space we call Colorado today on the worlds' radar, the old west get a new hub - While Buffalo Roamed...
This episode is part 1 of 2
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
How to Survive the Plains - Tribal Stories from Captain - Randolph Marcy - The Prairie Traveler 1959 - Guns and Equipment - Native American Black Beaver - Rattlesnake Bit and Remedy? - Blackfeet Tribe - Denver and Auraria - William N. Byers
Two interesting guide books, one civilian and one military prove valuable sources for firsthand intelligence regarding heading west in 1859. William Byers (future editor of the Rocky Mountain News) and General Marcy, Army western explorer both publish wonderful accounts that shed light on the character of the old west, the wild western frontier.
Native American stories by Marcy included.
The pure dope, not a doctor's version of it.
Sunday Aug 31, 2025
Sunday Aug 31, 2025
First Newspapers in Colorado - William N. Byers - John L. Merrick - Cherry Creek Pioneer versus The Rocky Mountain News - Western Traveling Printers - 1440 Johnnas Gettenberg and the printing press (original internet) - Official Record Begins in Colorado
The first newspapers (yes! two newspapers with editors) arrive in Denver City, K.T. (Kansas Territory) not knowing of the other (at first). John L. Merrick and William Newton Byers have come to the Pike's Peak Gold Regions to begin the permanent record. A reward for the first paper printed is offered, TWO editors enter...ONE editor leaves.
Sunday Aug 17, 2025
Sunday Aug 17, 2025
Authentic letters and articles from the original pioneers of Colorado (from and to the Old West). This episode brings color, detail, attitude, and life to the fifty-eighters and fifty-niners who have the honor of arriving in the Denver / Auraria (Colorado) region (Arapahoe County) FIRST. Arguments, an invention, descriptions of the Wild West, slices of life - this is a great episode to dig into and "hear" the brave arrivals to the edge of western Kansas Territory.
William Larimer Jr. - William Parsons - Henry Allen - John Scudder - Peleg Trip Bassett - A.O. McGrew (the wheelbarrow man)
NON-POP History!
Sunday Aug 03, 2025
Sunday Aug 03, 2025
Homicide - First Execution - First Capital Murder Case and Trial - Denver / Auraria - P.T. Bassett and John Scudder - John Scudder and Thomas Biencroff - New County Elections
The first "legal" execution occurs in Auraria (now Denver) and a friendship ends in bloodshed, this episode details the first murders and trials in the western edge of the Kansas Territory. John Stoefel is tried for capital murder, the first case of a people's court and execution at the future site of Denver. Also, John Scudder shoots and kills his former friend P.T. Bassett - the trial and verdict surprising. Justice in the old west?
FRIENDS and Family
History of Colorado, Hall, 1889Rocky Mountain News, July 11, 1859History of Colorado, Smiley, 1901
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
Two forgotten Native American legends - The Legend of the Manitou Springs - The Legend of the Maiden (Georgetown, Colorado) - Comanche - Ute (Utah)
Legends are fun and were an excellent way to pass on knowledge, particularly when the circumstances are other-worldly; unexplainable.
The first tale explains the reason why the Shoshone and Comanche became separated and waged war on one another. The second legend gives an explanation for a figure, a female figure, who seems to stand watch over Georgetown, Colorado. The statue was observed daily in the frontier days, now, it's very rare to find a person who can locate it on Republican Mountain - but you will be able to after this show!
There is also a brief history of the Ute Nation and directions to find the mysterious maiden.
Old West!
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
George Andrew Jackson - Gold in Colorado - Idaho Springs - Hot Springs - Wolverine attack - Clear Creek - Chicago Creek
The story of Colorado takes a turn, the first big discovery of gold in the mountains is made in current Idaho Springs, Colorado, near the confluence of Chicago and Clear Creeks. A hot spring, several mountain lions, mountain sheep and a wolverine greet our hero. A terrible fight and a treasure map!
Places to know: Floyd Hill, Evergreen, Bergen Park, Ute Trail, Jackson's Hill, Mother Cabrini Shrine, US40, I-70, Denver, Arapahoe City and Golden.
The people to know: George Andrew Jackson, Black Hawk (Jim Sanders), Tom Golden
The co-stars: Glutton (Carcajou)
Mountain Lions - Mountain Lions
Elk - Elk
Tools of note (belt axe, belt knife and skinning knife)
Note: Where's the mule in the story? Every time I see this story exhibited, there is a mule. There was no mule...sorry.
Sunday Jun 22, 2025
Sunday Jun 22, 2025
Crossing the Plains - 58ers - Augustus Voorhees - Jason Voorhees - Buffalo of the Plains - Rattlesnakes - Sioux - Comanche - Apache - Arapahoe - Bent's Fort - Pueblo - Cherry Creek
Today we hear about the journey across the plains from a member of the Lawrence Party, Augustus Voorhees, by way of his journal entries beginning May 31, 1858. These entries describe the scenery, interactions with the native inhabitants (many tribes) and the conditions of life on the Santa Fe Trail in 1858.
Back in Denver, a murder is committed, and the 58ers prepare for winter.
This is a good chance to hear and learn of the pioneer traveler, for ion the coming episodes the country will be inundated with those who make this trek.