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!
Episodes
Oct 26, 2025
Oct 26, 2025
35 min
Firearm (gun) Accidents 1859 - Frontier Weaponry - Mark Twain - Nevada Territory - Early Crime Scene Investigation by a 17 year old girl on the plains CSI - Sarah Herndon - Samuel Colt - Ethan Allan - The Pepper Box -
Why was it 3X more likely to die of accidental gun discharge in 1859 Kansas Territory (future Colorado) in the summer of 1859 than today? On this episode, we hear about some deaths caused by accidental weapon discharge (true events) and discover why it was so much more common a fate in frontier K.T. (Kansas Territory). Can it be blamed solely on the machinery , or simply human error...or all of the above?
Thanks for tuning in! - JB
Oct 12, 2025
Oct 12, 2025
31 min
Gold Rush 1959 Colorado (Kansas Territory) - Georgia - GOLD - John Gregory (cover art) - Black Hawk, Colorado - Central City, Colorado - Gregory Road - Golden Gate Canyon Road
The Colorado Gold Rush begins (officially) with a huge gold discovery between modern Black Hawk and Central City, Colorado on May 10, 1859 when John Gregory returns to his hidden strike. John is accompanied by Wilkes DeFrees and William Zeigler, they ascend Enter mountain (near Golden Gate Canyon Road - present day Golden, Colorado) creating a new path to the "Gregory Diggins".
This not only launches the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, but expedites any thoughts or talks of making this region a new and distinct territory.
THE explosion occurs!
JB
Oct 5, 2025
Oct 5, 2025
9 min
Introducing SEs (Special Episodes) - On off-Sundays I will release SEs when possible. These "Specials" will be shows that do not fit in the timeline, or shows dedicated to further detail on a subject. In other words, an episode labeled "SE" will not coincide (chronologically) with "Es" (regular episodes).
I won't throw in a story from Arizona or France, but I have a few interesting stories that predate the timeline and add value to the larger saga.
Thank you for listening,
JB
Sep 28, 2025
Sep 28, 2025
35 min
A "lazy" Georgian (John H. Gregory - cover art), 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
Thank you- JB
Sep 14, 2025
Sep 14, 2025
1hr 6 min
How to Survive the Plains - Tribal Stories from Captain - Randolph Marcy (cover art) - 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.
HI, JB
Aug 31, 2025
Aug 31, 2025
42 min
First Newspapers in Colorado - William N. Byers (cover art) - 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.
Colorado's first "broadband connection"
Aug 17, 2025
Aug 17, 2025
53 min
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!
Aug 3, 2025
Aug 3, 2025
42 min
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