The Frontier Journal
Stories of grit, heritage, and the American West — from a family that has been writing them since 1630.
The Windmill That Watered the Plains
Barbed wire gets the headlines, but the humble windmill is what made ranching on the dry plains possible. Here's how a self-governing water pump from 1854 opened the range, watered the railroads, and still turns on ra...
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Dodge City and the Kansas Cowtowns: The Real Story
Dodge City was the Queen of the Cowtowns for about ten years. Here's the real story of the Kansas cattle towns: the railroads, ...
Cowboy Hat Brim Widths, Explained
Half an inch of brim changes everything about how a cowboy hat works and wears. Here's how to measure a brim, what 3½, 4 and 4½...
Talk Less at the Gate
Cattle go through a gate quiet or they don't go through at all. A Sunday reflection on James 1:19 and putting listening ahead o...
How to Layer a Heavyweight Tee for Winter
Your favorite tee doesn't have to hibernate till April. Here's how to layer a heavyweight T-shirt for winter: the three-layer r...
The Oregon Trail: 2,000 Miles on Hope
Two thousand miles, four to six months, almost all of it on foot. Here's the real story of the Oregon Trail — who walked it, wh...
What to Wear to the NFR in Las Vegas (2026 Guide)
Headed to the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, December 3–12, 2026? Here is exactly what to wear for cold desert nights, a packed are...
How to Buy a Hat as a Gift (Without Knowing His Size)
Buying a hat for a man and don't know his size? Here's why an adjustable snapback is the safe bet, six sneaky ways to find his ...
Buffalo Bill's Wild West: The Show That Sold the Frontier
Real stagecoaches, real buffalo, Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, and a Texan billed as the King of the Cowboys. Here's the true sto...
How to Pick a Candle Scent for Someone Else (Gift Guide)
Buying a candle for someone else feels like guessing. It isn't. Here are the four questions to ask, which scent fits which kind...
Cowboy Hat Etiquette: When to Take It Off
Nobody hands you a rulebook with your first hat. Here's the whole thing, plainly told: when the hat comes off (anthem, prayer, ...
The Buffalo Soldiers: Service on the Frontier
Worn-out horses, condemned saddles, and a country that didn't always want them, and they still built the roads, strung the wire...
Riding Drag
Somebody has to ride at the back of the herd and eat the dust. A Sunday reflection on Mark 9:35, humility, and the jobs that qu...
