In this newsletter: and more! | | Latest from our world | | | | In the meantime, we are home for the holidays this year, enjoying some spectacular sunsets over the Lake of the Ozarks. Kathy's busy figuring out the calendar for 2026 and where she might take us next. I, however, am dreaming of all those Christmas goodies I could make, but not eat. One thing about living life to the fullest, especially with food... at some point it DOES catch up with ya.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, or whatever you celebrate. Thanks for being a reader, and enjoy this month's newsletter.
Dave "no fudge for you" Alexander. | | From Legends' Photo Print Shop | | From Chicago, Illinois, to the Santa Monica Pier in California, and everything in between, you'll find dozens of Route 66 photographs from all eight states! Prints small to large make a great gift for the Holidays, or just for you!
Use coupon code NEWS20 in checkout for 20% off. | | | | Here are some of the recent additions since our last newsletter | | Fort Parker, Texas - Fort Parker, Texas, was a private fort built by Elder John Parker and his three sons, Benjamin, Silas, and James W. Parker, and other church members.
Fort Richardson, Texas - Fort Richardson, the northernmost of the chain of Texas forts, replaced Fort Belknap, which was abandoned after the Civil War due to a lack of water.
Battle of the Diablo Mountains, Texas - The Battle of the Diablo Mountains, an engagement in the Jicarilla War, was fought in October 1854 between the U.S. Army and the Lipan Apache.
Great Railroad Strike of 1877 - The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a series of violent labor strikes that occurred across the U.S. It was the country's first major rail strike. | | Oswego, Kansas – Labette County Seat - (Legends of Kansas) Oswego, Kansas, is an early frontier settlement shaped by Osage heritage, pioneer trade, Civil War turmoil, and the enduring stories of Labette County.
Centropolis, Kansas – Tiny Town in Franklin County - (Legends of Kansas) Centropolis is considered the first town in Franklin County, although it shares a date of settlement with Lane.
Shallow Water, Kansas - Extinct in Scott County - (Legends of Kansas) Shallow Water, Kansas, is a small town and census-designated place in Scott County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 89.
Altamont, Kansas - (Legends of Kansas) Altamont, Kansas, is a small town located at the geographic center of Labette County. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 1,061.
We've added twelve new articles since our last newsletter. | | | From Legends' General Store | | From the Old West and Native America, to Americana and fun maps, our 11x17 Poster Prints are made right here in Missouri.
Take 20% your purchase when you use the coupon code NEWS20 in Cartview. | | | | | On December 18, 1917, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors,” was drafted and passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
Called the “noble experiment” by Herbert Hoover, 75% of the states approved the amendment, which was ratified on January 16, 1919.
| | | Sitting Bull – Lakota Chief and Holy Man | | Shot down on December 15, 1890, Sitting Bull was a strategist, diplomat, spiritual leader, and a voice for his people during one of the most turbulent eras in Lakota history. His story is far more complex than the myths that followed him.
| | | From Legends' General Store | | Frontier Slang, Lingo & Phrases by Legends of America (signed paperback)
From the wild and woolly mining camps, to the rampages of the Civil War, to the many cowboys riding on the range, those frontier folks often used terms and phrases that are no longer used in everyday language today. Yet other words and sayings were often specific to certain regions and never used across the states. These terms, as in the past, are still sometimes heard in specific areas, but are “foreign” to the rest of us.
From the pages of period newspapers, books, and century old dictionaries comes the slang, lingo, and phrases of the American Frontier. Even if you're not looking for a definition, you'll get a peek into the charm and character of a historic era.
Published by Legends Of America, 2015.
Take 20% off when you use the coupon code NEWS20 in cart view.
| | | Saloons of the American West | | Well, there ain’t no talkin’ about the Old West, without mentioning the dozens, no hundreds – er, thousands of saloons of the American West. The very term “saloon” itself conjures up a picture within our minds of an Old West icon, complete with a wooden false front, a wide boardwalk flanking the dusty street, a couple of hitchin’ posts, and the always present swinging doors brushing against the cowboy as he made his way to the long polished bar in search of a whiskey to wet his parched throat. | | | C.J. Walker – Blazing a Path in Business for Women | | Born on December 23, 1867, one of America’s remarkable rags-to-riches stories and a pioneer not only for women but also African Americans, Madame C.J. Walker blazed a path as the first black woman millionaire and is argued to be the first self-made woman millionaire in the U.S. | | | Popular Stories on Facebook | | In case you missed it, here are some of the articles that have been popular on our Facebook Fan Pages recently. | | | High in the San Juan Mountains sits the ghost town of Eureka, Colorado, a place shaped by fortune, feuds, avalanches, and one of the most shocking mining disasters in Colorado history. From the rise of the Sunnyside Mine to the day Lake Emma collapsed into the tunnels below, Eureka’s past is as dramatic as the landscape around it.
If you love Old West history, mining lore, or ghost towns with unforgettable stories, this one’s a must.
[image: Eureka, Colorado, by William Henry Jackson, 1900.] | | | The Arikara Tribe - known as the “Corn Eaters” and once distinguished by their horn-like hair ornaments - played a vital role in the history of the Missouri River Valley. From early alliances and conflicts to their enduring traditions of farming, ceremonies, and artistry, their story reflects resilience in the face of hardship. 🌽
Learn more about their fascinating journey, from Lewis & Clark’s encounters to their place today within the Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation.
[image: Arikara Medicine Men, 1908] | | | Born December 13, 1864, George Washington Earp was a cousin of Wyatt Earp and also served as a lawman in Kansas. He would later move to Missouri and become a Tax Consultant, a job he didn't retire from until he was 91.
[image: George Washington Earp. ]
| | | Founded by Volga German immigrants, Pfeifer, Kansas, built its first church in 1879, but by 1915 they dreamed bigger. Families contributed two cents for every bushel of wheat they harvested, and donated countless hours quarrying and hauling stone.
The result, completed in 1918, is a breathtaking Gothic masterpiece with a 165‑foot spire, rib‑vaulted ceilings, and ornate stonework. Though the parish closed in 1993, the church remains open daily and continues to host weddings, funerals, and special events. It’s even been named one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas Architecture.
A quiet town with a powerful story, read about Pfeifer, Kansas
[images: Pfeifer, KS - Holy Cross Church & School. Photos by Kathy Alexander.] | | | | | Our website and newsletter are supported by some mighty fine readers. Yeah, we're talking about YOU Friend! We just can't thank you enough! Be sure to check out our General Store and Photo Print Shop, helping keep our content free of charge since 2003.
All newsletter readers can enjoy 20% savings. Just use coupon code News20 in 'cart view' at our General Store, or during checkout on our Photo Print Shop. | | | Have a comment about something in this newsletter or any of our stories? Reply to this email or send them to travel@legendsofamerica.com. | | |
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