Vaqueros

Before the legend came the labor. This feature explores how cowboys got their start in the Old West through ranch work, cattle drives, vaquero traditions, and the hard realities of frontier life.

Explore the myths and realities of cowboy life in the American West. This article uncovers how popular culture shaped the cowboy legend and reveals the true stories, diverse backgrounds, and everyday challenges of real cowboys and cowgirls on the range.