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
Jul 20, 2025
Jul 20, 2025
27 min
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!
Jul 6, 2025
Jul 6, 2025
31 min
George Andrew Jackson (cover art) - 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.
J
Jun 22, 2025
Jun 22, 2025
20 min
Crossing the Plains - 58ers - Augustus Voorhees (cover art) - 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.
Jun 8, 2025
Jun 8, 2025
34 min
William Larimer Jr (cover art) - Auraria - Denver City - Arapahoe City - Kansas Territory - Montana City - Colorado - William Greenberry Russell - Golden
The creation of Denver AND Colorado, three places to visit in Denver, the first towns of Montana City, Auraria, St. Charles and Arapahoe City - all in contention for the county seat (Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory). This is the dawn of Colorado, and now the story really begins!
Denver City, Colorado, Montana City, Arapahoe City, Auraria
Pike's Peak gold rush, Grant Frontier Park, Confluence Park, the saddest and loneliest historical marker ever!
May 25, 2025
May 25, 2025
41 min
Murder on the Plains - Julia Archibald Holmes - Lawrence Party - Georgia Party - Leavenworth Party - Russell Party (William Green Russell cover art) - Gold - Garden of the Gods - Arapahoe County - Cherry Creek
1858 is a huge year for Colorado, this is the story of the early risk-takers, the fifty-Eighters, who arrived at future Denver in 1858 (lured by rumors of gold).
First significant gold discovery - First attempted murder and trial - First summits of Pike's Peak by Anglos (men and a woman) - The Bloomer Girl - The Wheelbarrow Man - Garden of the Gods - First county officers arrive
Thank you for listening,
JB
May 8, 2025
May 8, 2025
12 min
Gold Panning in Colorado
How Pioneers Found Gold - Gold Panning - Gold Falls From Heaven - Asteroids - Water is the Key
After an unknown teamster finds gold in Cherry creek (modern downtown Denver), gold will be a driving force to this series - time to learn a little about GOLD.
Basic gold prospecting (panning) and how the frontier miners found gold in the water and way up on mountainsides.
placer gold and lode gold
Special thanks to: primalhousemusic, nickogloire, free_sound community and moodmode
JB
Apr 27, 2025
Apr 27, 2025
23 min
Captain Marcy's Disaster - Colonel Loring March - Frozen and Burned - Eating the Horses and Mules - Death on the Road - Utah
The lonely gravesite of Michael Fagan marks the location of the Marcy / Loring march, in which a snowstorm killed 3, one man burned to ...
Thanks to DELOSound
JB
Apr 15, 2025
Apr 15, 2025
12 min
Fort Laramie - Bent's Old and New Forts
Jacques La Ramee (Laramie)
William and Charles Bent (cover art)
Oasis in the desert
A detail of two important forts, Fort Laramie and Bent's Fort(s). Both vital to westward expansion, worth the drive and visit - hit both in a day if you can!
JB