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Old West History

Can you name these facts from the history of the American West?
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: February 21, 2019
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First submittedNovember 29, 2014
Times taken14,501
Average score65.0%
Rating4.28
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Clue
Answer
What James Marshall discovered at Sutter's Mill, California in 1848
Gold
Pioneer trail that ended in the Willamette Valley
Oregon Trail
Railroad that connected the East and West in 1869
Transcontinental Railroad
The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand through the continent
Manifest Destiny
Mormon leader who founded Salt Lake City
Brigham Young
Large mammal whose population was reduced from 60 million to just 750
American Bison
1876 victory of Sioux tribes over U.S. forces
Battle of the Little Bighorn
Colonel who had his "last stand" at the above battle
George Armstrong Custer
Most famous Sioux warrior at that battle
Crazy Horse
Most famous Apache leader; Skydivers shout his name
Geronimo
City in western Kansas where cattle drives once ended
Dodge City
Boomtown in Arizona famous for the "Shootout at the OK Corral"
Tombstone
Most famous participant in the above shoot-out
Wyatt Earp
Invention of Samuel Colt that made shootouts possible
Revolver
"Bury my heart" at this place where Native Americans were massacred in 1890
Wounded Knee
Nickname of gunman James Butler Hickok
Wild Bill
Female friend of the above
Calamity Jane
South Dakota boomtown and namesake of an HBO series
Deadwood
Nez Perce leader who tried to lead his people to Canada
Chief Joseph
Pioneers who resorted to cannabilism while stuck in the Sierra Nevadas
Donner Party
12 Comments
+2
Level 78
Dec 1, 2014
Neat fact: Wild Bill Hickok was not named such because of his craziness. Rather, at the time, "bill" was slang for nose. Hickok has a rather large schnoz, or a "wild bill." So that cool nickname was actually more of an insult. Makes more sense when you realize that his first name isn't even William.
+1
Level 44
Jan 22, 2015
hah didn't know this but I always wondered where it came from thanks :)
+1
Level 44
Jan 23, 2015
huh. I've always wondered how he got it. I knew bill was slang for nose, but never put it together with the man. thanks :)
+1
Level 61
Feb 22, 2019
Stories about how he got his nickname are speculation. Google his name and you will get several different stories.
+1
Level 73
Jan 22, 2015
BTW, it's Nez "Perce", not "Pearce"
+1
Level ∞
Jan 22, 2015
Fixed the spelling
+1
Level 87
Aug 29, 2015
fairly easy got 100% with 2:42 leftover. guess it helps that i love history!
+4
Level 28
Feb 22, 2019
Donner kebab
+1
Level 81
Feb 22, 2019
Not familiar with Chief Joseph, though the story sounds familiar and I think I saw it dramatized once. Guess I just forgot his name. The rest were easy.
+3
Level 74
Feb 22, 2019
Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce over 1000 miles trying to get to Canada rather than go to a reservation. They eluded the US Army for six months, but surrendered within 40 miles of the border and Chief Joseph made a famous speech which ended with, "Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." I have a copy of Merill Beal's book, I Will Fight No More Forever, and a very good TV movie of that name was made in the '70s. Chief Joseph is very worthy of learning more about, but it's a sad story.
+1
Level 81
Feb 22, 2019
I definitely saw a dramatized version of this story but I don't remember when or what it was called. I don't think it was the movie from 1975 it was more recent.
+1
Level 74
Mar 16, 2023
I rarely get all of the questions right, but I managed 18/20. Thanks for the quiz!