Cowboy Country: The American Cowboy

Beginning in the early 1840's, more than 350,000 emigrants headed out into the American West in covered wagons, on horseback and on foot. It was one of the biggest migrations in human history and one of the most difficult. We retrace the steps of pioneers along the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails to gain an understanding of those who risked so much to reach their promised land.

For centuries, the native peoples of the American West lived a proud, independent life. But in the mid of the 19th century they found themselves overwhelmed by a torrent of emigrants. Theirs is a story of tragedy and treachery but also, finally, one of hope and the revival of ancient beliefs and customs.

Hollywood's portrayal of the American West may not always have been accurate but it's certainly helped preserve interest in this colorful or American history. Classic Western films are entwined with a time when bravery and purpose were the rule rather than the exception. So we revisit some of the stars of this genre, and the places where they made their celluloid magic.

More than liberty, land or lumber, gold paved the way for the settlement of the American West. The frenzied days of the 49'ers prospectors are long gone but Gold Rush towns still beckon those who are mining for memories from one of history's most exciting times.

Nothing so fundamentally changed the American West as did the "iron horse." This new form of transportation created fortunes, hastened the end of ancient cultures and shaped a new world. So climb aboard as we travel through the past and the present on America's Western railroads.

The history of the American West is often most colorfully told in places like Tombstone, Arizona; South Pass City, Wyoming; and Deadwood, South Dakota. Some of the Old West's towns have crumbled to dust. Others are very much alive. A trip through them is a fascinating journey into the past.