Photo Essay: Wild Wild West
Welcome To Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World!
From 1883 through his death in 1917, Buffalo Bill brought the cowboys and Indians, sharp-shooters and equestrians from the old western culture into the cities and eyes of viewers all over the world, including the Queen of England.
Buffalo Bill wasn’t only bringing entertainment, but also a desparately needed cultural awareness of fading lifestyles, forced movement of Native Americans to reservations, and conservation of our natural landscapes and resources.
As part of this annual Festival of the American West, held August 3-6, The American West Heritage Center, just off highway 89-91 in Wellsville, brought back Wild Bill’s legacy. They put on a show just as colorful as those that traveled the globe at the turn of the century.
The recreated Wild West Show opened with a flag ceremony presented by The Americanas’ long legacy of show riding. The Americanas also performed in the inaugural parade where Pres. George W. Bush gave them two thumbs up.
The show continued with a demonstration of Pony Express riders being chased down by thieving bandits.
Next on the program was a very special treat. One of Wild Bill’s original performers came into the arena – Annie Oakley and her assistant Frank Butler (played by Marna Jean and Doug Davis). Annie proved her title as one of the greatest marksmen of the West, shooting balloons out of Frank’s mouth and hands with a .22 pistol and rifle. The cartridges were blanks, but as a demonstration with a pop can showed, the blanks were plenty powerful enough to penetrate even the roughest of calloused cowboy skin.
Annie performed one-handed shots, ambidextrous (two-handed) shots, behind-the-back shots and shots fired aiming through a mirror.
There were riding tricks and roping tricks. Benny Martinez rode in to the arena on his horse Napoleon while swirling his rope and dressed in the traditional Mexican cowboy Charro suit.
The show ended with a song from the Native American group Star Road Dance Company, which was formed after the Salt Lake Winter Olympics. They also performed on the Mountain Man and Native American Demonstration Stage next to the Native American Campsite.
The stage was one of seven set up hosting demonstrations among craft booths and food vendors. The mountain men also had thier own trappers’ camp set up while Civil War era soldiers drilled in thier military camp.
The historical farm bustled with the demonstrations on hitching a horse, broom-making, blacksmithing, sheep-shearing, carving Welch love spoons, bobbin lace-making and even sausage making.
The all-day events cost less than the Warped Tour at $15 for adults and only $12 for students – and definitely has more educational value. The Festival of the American West is the largest of the Heritage Center’s events, but not the only. The Fall Harvest Festival is scheduled for Oct. 15 and will have apple cider pressing, traditional harvesting demonstrations and an antique tractor show, pumpkin carving, music and heritage arts vendors.
The center also offers wagon rides through the 1917-era farm called Big Horse Adventures. The welcome center and gift shop are open Monday through Friday. The facilities are available to be rented for conferences and weddings, and school groups are always welcome to make reservations.
For more information, stop by The American West Heritage Center at 4025 South Highway 89-91 in Wellsville, or call (435) 245-6050 or toll-free at (800)225-3378.
A member of Star Road Dance Company closes the Wild West Show with a song. (Michael Sharp)
Clouds hover above the military and mountain an camps at the scenic American West Heritage site. The tents and teepees are set up for guests to explore and can be rented for a night through some of the center´s programs. (Michael Sharp)
A wagon is used to display signs for upcoming and current events at the entrance to the American West Heritage Center located at 4025 South Hwy 89-91 in Wellsville. (Michael Sharp)