The Kentucky long rifle, also referred to simply as the Kentucky rifle, holds a distinguished place in the annals of American history. Renowned for its remarkable accuracy and long-distance shooting capabilities, this muzzle-loading rifle became a symbol of frontier ingenuity and craftsmanship in the hands of frontiersman Daniel Boone while serving as a formidable weapon against the British in the American Revolution.

The Kentucky long rifle emerged in the early 18th century, primarily crafted by German gunsmiths who settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania known as the gateway to the frontier. Its development was pivotal, as it quickly became the preferred firearm for hunters and soldiers alike. Unlike its predecessors, the Kentucky rifle featured a longer barrel, which enhanced its range and accuracy—a crucial advantage in the dense forests and open landscapes of early America. Mertin Meylin was the gunsmith attributed as having manufactured the first flintlock Ken- tucky rifle with a grooved barrel in 1710.

The rifle’s design was a marriage of practicality and artistry. The long barrel, often measuring over 40 inches, was meticulously rifled, allowing for a more stable and accurate flight path for the bullet. The wooden stock, typically made from maple or walnut, was often intricately carved and inlaid with brass or silver, reflecting the skill and creativity of its makers.

The long rifle is an early example of a firearm utilizing rifling, which involves spiral grooves cut into the bore of the gun. This innovation was a significant advancement in firearm technology, as it enabled the projectile—typically a round lead ball in these early firearms—to spin around its axis during flight. This spinning motion increased the projectile’s stability and dramatically improved its accuracy compared to the smooth-bore muskets, which were more affordable and thus more common at the time.

The Kentucky rifle was typically made in .36, .40, .45, and .50 caliber sizes. These calibers varied based on the intended use and the type of ammunition used. The .36 caliber was often used for hunting smaller game, while the .40 caliber was suitable for larger game. The .45 caliber was used for its accuracy and long-distance shooting capabilities, making it a popular choice among frontiersmen and hunters. The .50 caliber was also used, but it was less common compared to the other caliber.

The introduction and increasing reliance on rifled firearms marked a shift in military tactics. With the enhanced accuracy they provided, soldiers could engage enemies from greater distances and with greater precision. This capability necessitated changes in battlefield formations and strategies, moving away from the traditional line and volley tactics of musket warfare to more dispersed and adaptive combat styles. The effectiveness of rifling in firearms set the stage for further technological advancements in weaponry, influenc- ing military engagements worldwide well into the future.

Rifled firearms first saw significant combat use during the eighteenth century in the American colonies. They played a notable role in the French and Indian War and later in the American Revolution, where their improved accuracy gave colonial forces an edge in certain engagements. The use of rifled firearms continued to grow, becoming increasingly prominent in conflicts such as the War of 1812, the Texan Revolution, and the War Between the States. Their ability to hit targets at greater distances made them invaluable in warfare, particularly in skirmish roles and for sharpshooters.

The Kentucky long rifle remains a cherished artifact in the story of American expansion and independence. Its legacy endures in museums and private collections, serving as a testament to the craftsmanship and resourcefulness of the early American frontier spirit.

The innovation of rifling in firearms represented a major leap forward in the evolution of weaponry. By improving the accuracy and range of firearms, rifled guns changed the landscape of warfare and influenced the outcome of significant historical conflicts. As a testament to human ingenuity, rifling remains a critical component of firearm design, continuing to shape the development of modern armaments.

Whether admired for its historical significance or its technical brilliance, the Kentucky rifle continues to capture the imagination of firearm enthusiasts and historians alike. It can be seen today as part of an extensive collection of firearms on display at the Harold Warp Pioneer Village.

Pioneer Village is the perfect place to pull of the interstate and enjoy some time outside of the car. Just 12 miles south of the interstate, you’ll find a huge collection (over 50,000 items) of priceless midwestern history. Whether you’re driving through Nebraska or call the state home, The Harold Warp Pioneer Village is a fun, family friendly museum that everyone can enjoy. With 28 buildings, 17 flying machines, 100 tractors, over 350 cars and much, much more, anyone can find an area of interest worth checking out there! The Americana museum will not disappoint!

The colossal collection of history, Pioneer Village, is located in the small town of Minden. The history the town of Minden holds is astounding and worth every ounce of time a stop takes! While in Minden, you must also check out the Minden Opera House. This beautiful old building is located in the downtown area and has been there since 1891. The Opera House offers theater productions, art showings, and public events. Check their schedule here to see if there is show when you are visiting at:  https://www.mindenoperahouse.com.

If you are heading west after your fun filled time in Minden, another must stop spot is Ft. Kearney State Historical Park and Recreational Area. This fun, summer spot is just 15 minutes from Minden and is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. There are playgrounds, ponds, and camping. The best thing about Ft. Kearney, however, is the gorgeous walking trail that goes through the park and over three bridges that cross the Platte River. It’s a beautiful walk anytime of the day, but at sunset it boasts the great Nebraskan sunsets in a whole new way.

Outdoors not your thing? A different, fun stop heading west would be the Big Apple Fun Center in Kearney. It’s located just one interstate exit west of Minden. The Big Apple is a one stop shop for fun for all ages. They offer bowling, mini golf, laser tag, a giant ball filled playground, and go-carts! With all of these attractions indoors, the fun is available year round. They also offer a menu of kid friendly foods like chicken strips and fries. 

If your trip has you heading east after your stop at Pioneer Village, then you must stop at the Rowe Sanctuary (https://rowe.audubon.org). Rowe is another beautiful place to be outdoors. Their mission is to conserve the Platte River and the birds that live there. Here, you can take walks in the wilderness of Nebraska and see the different types of wildlife that live in this area. There are many beautiful views, animals, and plants that you can see here.

Another fun, family friendly stop heading east would be Island Oasis in Grand Island. This is a water park located less than an hour away from Pioneer Village! Island Oasis has a lazy river, a wave pool and two large waterslides. They also have a climbing jungle gym within the shallow end of the pool, an area for small kids to swim and run around, and two more smaller water slides suitable for any age. Island Oasis is a great place to cool down in the summer heat and an amazing stop off of the interstate after a fun visit to Pioneer Village. 

Pioneer Village is a definite must stop spot off I-80. Stop there to learn about the history of America and show your kids the very items you or your parents may have used as a child their age! Pioneer Village has such a fun surrounding area and you shouldn’t miss out on what Middle America has to offer on a drive down I-80.

When Harold Warp was born in a sod house in Minden, Nebraska in 1903, no one knew what the future would hold for him. Harold was the youngest of 12 kids. Little did his parents  know that he would grow to be a successful entrepreneur and would collect thousands of treasures for the world to enjoy with his creation of Pioneer Village .By age 11, Warp had lost both of his parents and was sent to live in various households until high school when he moved in with an older brother in Chicago. Despite a challenging childhood, Warp was a curious, inventive, and intelligent student. One of his earliest successes involved creating a cookbook for his home economics teacher in high school that he sold by mail order.

His success story started when he noticed that the Summer yielded more growth and eggs from chickens than Winter due to chicken coop’s windows that did not allow the sun’s warmth into the building. This led him to three years of experimentation and ended with Warp creating Flex-O-Glass! This was a revolutionary, flexible material that could be added to chicken coops to give the chickens the illusion of Summer by allowing the sun’s warmth to enter the room. While in Chicago, Warp used his savings to create a factory for Flex-O-Glass and found great success with the material after the government approved of it. Warp’s plastic businesses grew to include several other products and the Warp Bros. company was founded and is still in business today.

Harold Warp took his success in the plastics businesses and brought it home to Minden, Nebraska. It was there that he purchased the town’s one room schoolhouse, church, and train depot, along with several others and the dream of Pioneer Village was born. Harold moved several buildings to form a new “town square” and opened his attraction in 1953. A notable building is a replica of the sod house in which he was born just feet away from the oldest merry-go-round in America. Along with historic Minden buildings, Harold Warp packed his land with over 50,000 historically significant items. Pioneer Village grew to hold everything from cars to antique fire extinguishers and art. Harold Warp’s dream came true and many visitors from around the nation came to Nebraska to see the historical masterpieces he had preserved. Warp was a lifelong learner who dedicated his time and money into helping Americans continue their education into the past.

Harold Warp was a respected business owner and citizen in Nebraska and beyond. Before his death in 1994, he was the recipient of numerous awards including the 1979 Horatio Alger Award and the 1984 Distinguished Nebraskalander Award. He was selected for these awards based on his commitment to leadership, community service, excellence, and the belief that everyone can achieve a better future. In 1983, Harold Warp donated his museum to the nonprofit Harold Warp Pioneer Village Foundation. Although Harold is no longer with us, his legacy will not be forgotten. His contributions to historical preservations at Pioneer Village and beyond as well as his innovations in the plastics industry will continue to benefit and educate the world forever.

Located in Minden Nebraska, is a historical museum right off the interstate called pioneer village. Here, you can find thousands of historical artifacts, stretching across 28 buildings. Among the artifacts, In the collection of dolls Pioneer Village has, there are several who can be recognized by name. One of whom represents Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln and was the 16^th First Lady. 

According to the website eHistory, Mary’s full name is Mary Ann, however, she went only by Mary because she had a sister named Ann. On December 13, 1818, Mary was born in Lexington, Kentucky (eHistory, n.d.). Resulting of her father being married twice, Mary had 15 siblings, according to the Mary Todd Lincoln House (MTLH Biography, n.d.). Her family also had a lot of money and could afford expensive items (Biography.com, April 1, 2021; eHistory, n.d.).

Mary took her education very seriously. Shelby Female Academy was the school she was enrolled in for five years. At the time, girls were not taught the same amount of material the boys learned, however, Mary was taught more subjects than many girls. Mary continued her education, which was also uncommon at the time. She completed her studies at Shelby Female Academy. The second school she attended was Madame Mentelle’s for Young Ladies. Boarding was an option for students at Madame Mentelle’s. Mary convinced the school to let her board there as well, even though her family lived nearby. Mary’s family had to pay tuition every year for Mary to attend school. Around fifty-two dollars were spent each year for Shelby Female Academy, and one-hundred-twenty dollars was the price for Madame Mentelle’s for Young Ladies. Mary loved to learn and excelled in school (eHistory, n.d.).

According to Biography.com, Abraham and Mary met when they were both in Springfield, Illinois. Elizabeth Edwards, Mary’s sister, lived there and Mary had come to visit. November 4, 1842, was the day of their marriage (Biography.com, April 1, 2021). During their time together they had four children, but only one lived to be an adult (MTLH Timeline, n.d.). 

While Mary was the first lady, she visited patients in the hospital and brought them supplies and gifts, according to eHistory. Mary was not afraid to share her thoughts and opinions. The news would often report about her life and how she behaved differently from past First Ladies. Spending money also became a bad habit of hers, but after Abraham discussed the issue with her she became more aware of her spending (eHistory, n.d.). Grief became a difficult struggle Mary experienced due to losing Abraham and three of her sons (MTLH Biography, n.d.; Biography.com, April 1, 2021; eHistory, n.d.). 

It is unknown when the Mary Todd Lincoln doll arrived at Pioneer Village. However, in a letter Sister Clara sent to her brother Harold on May 17, 1962, a photo was included with the collection of dolls at the time (Sister Clara’s Letters, p. 369). The Mary Todd Lincoln doll is believed to be in the picture leading us to predict the museum had received the doll before or around the time the photograph was taken and the letter was sent. 

Today, many of the dolls collected at Pioneer Village are located inside the Hobby House, building twenty-one (Pioneer Village Website). A set has been made to represent a Toy Store out of the many collectible toys the museum has received (Photo by Marcy Brandt). Dolls can be found interacting with other toys or being displayed on the shelves. 

Come make a visit to Pioneer Village to see these wonderful childhood treasures and learn more of the stories each item has to share.

 The Shoe Shop that is now in Pioneer Village was once operated by a father and son pair in New England from 1840 to 1880. They had quite the process to make their shoes. It started by getting animal hides from local farmers. Then, they took the hides back to their shoe shop and sat at a low bench that served as their workstation. The tools used by the shoemakers were practically the same tools that ancient Egyptian sandal makers used: a lapping stone, hammer, crude needle, and knife. The knife was the shoemaker’s best friend as it was used to cut fabric and build the structure of the shoes to the form. The needle was used for the precision needed to make a shoe. The whole process was unpleasant and daunting, taking eight to ten hours to finish each pair of shoes.

Once multiple pairs of shoes were finished, the shoemakers went back out to the country to sell their final products to people. Then, they got more animal hides from local farmers to start the process all over again.

In the year 1845, the first machine to be widely adopted by the industry was introduced. It was a simple form of a rolling machine, which took the place of the lapping stone and hammer used by the shoemakers for toughening the leather. This machine saved shoemakers about thirty minutes of hammering and flattening out leather because it could do the job in one minute.

If you come to visit the Shoe Shop at Pioneer Village, you will see that all the shoe forms were the same. Before 1865 there were no right and left shoes. Two different shoes for each foot were made for soldiers in the Civil War and became popular for the public as well then. So come check it out for yourself!

Did you know that Minden, Nebraska is known for being Nebraska’s Christmas City? Minden has been named the best place to celebrate Christmas in the Midwest, and all for good reason. The history behind this lovely Christmas town dates back all the way to 1915, when the City Light Commissioner, J.C. Haws, decided to string lights from the railroad depot all the way to the town square. Since those lights technically were not made for the weather during the cold, snowy Christmas season, they are now placed in the courthouse dome, located in the Kearney County Courthouse in Minden, NE. For years, the lights have “been a huge source of pride for the whole community and state”

Another huge source of pride for the community has been Minden’s annual Christmas pageant, “The Light of the World”. This pageant is free to the public and is a must see! It is put on by local residents on the sides of the courthouse and ends with over 12,000 Christmas light bulbs illuminating the sky around Minden. This pageant is typically held on the Saturday right after Thanksgiving as well as the first two Sundays in December. For more information and to see performance dates, you can visit this online calendar! 

Minden is a town that is constantly trying to shed some light and bring the community together. According to a NebraskaPublicMedia.org article, “Minden brings back the Christmas lights as a ‘ray of light’ amidst the Covid-19 pandemic”. It was also stated by Matthew Cederburg, Minden’s City Administrator and Finance Director, that “We’re tired of the bad news and we want some good news, so we couldn’t be happier that this was suggested and it worked out and the lights came on,”. Many people find Minden to be the perfect place to take their family or significant other during the holidays; the old lit-up historic buildings just give off a charming and magical vibe during the most wonderful time of the year. You will definitely want to hurry down to Minden soon to see the lights before they are shut off on January 1st. You won’t regret it!

Not only can you come down and see the pageant, but there are also many other fun things that go on centered around the Minden lights! You can ice skate under the lights, see the lighted parade, have fun at the children’s parade, and go shopping downtown. There is also an art show, craft fair, public feedings, and other family friendly events and activities available for everyone. Listed below are a few of the most popular streets in Nebraska (local to Minden) to visit and see beautiful Christmas displays!

• • • Plattsmouth: Many pretty decorations in the historical area of downtown!
    • Creighton: Santaland display!
    • Alliance: Historic main street with winterscape type display!
    • Omaha: Downtown festival of lights!
    • Seward: Main street is completely decorated with beautiful lights as well as a winter  festival!

Have you ever taken the time to really think about buttons? The history of buttons, different colors, unique shapes, various uses for buttons. You’ve never thought about that? Me neither. That was why I was intrigued when I heard about a button collection at the Harold Warp Pioneer Village. 

I personally love buttons. My grandma had an enormous jar full of an assortment of buttons that I would look through when I visited her. It was so fun for me to sort through them all and find little dainty buttons, big bulky buttons, normal sewing buttons, and unique one-of-a-kind buttons. My grandma always let me pick out a couple of buttons to take home with me, so I had a small collection of my own.

Buttons are obviously useful for clothes but they are also great for crafts. On each of my Christmas cards last year I hot glued two little white buttons next to each other and decorated them to look like a snowman. I also got a miniature Christmas tree and hot glued one button on the end of each branch so I have a centerpiece full of color and cheer for the holiday season. When it comes to buttons, there are thousands of ways to use your creativity especially when you have thousands of buttons at your disposal. 

One creative way the Harold Warp Pioneer Village displays their button collection is by covering different wooden shapes with them. The Hobby House, home of the Pioneer Village button collection, has wooden alphabet letters hanging on the wall. Each letter is covered with approximately 200-300 buttons. Along with the alphabet, there is a miniature rocking chair, wheelbarrow, windmill, water well, star, and covered wagon made of wood that are each covered and decorated with bunches of buttons. A full-sized button dress and some picture frames with buttons glued in different patterns that hang on the walls are the final displays in the button collection. 

On November 16, 1960, Clara Warp Jensen wrote a letter to Harold Warp telling him that her husband, T.C. Jensen, had traveled to Murdock, Nebraska. It was here that he purchased the button collection from a lady named Mrs. Martha Kruse for 25 dollars and brought it back to Minden, Nebraska. Clara worked on adding the button collection to the Hobby House for all to see over the years. 

Buttons are fun to collect but, if you think about it, any item can be collectible if you get enough of them in one place. For instance, I was proud to own a collection of bouncy balls that I took to school for show-and-tell in kindergarten once. The Hobby House, according to the History of Man’s Progress book, contains over 50 different collections with over 5,000 total individual items. Some collections in this building along with the buttons include canes, hatpins, trivets, model trains, arrowheads, belt buckles, night-caps, glass slippers, miniature night lamps, spittoons, cigar lighters, and cigar clippers. 

Some people collect a super specific item and they know everything about each separate item such as how it is similar and different from the others. This is not the case for the button collection. With thousands of buttons in the Hobby House, it would be impossible to know the background of each individual button. That is the beauty in it, I guess. One button may be from your great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother’s wedding dress or even from the clothes of a royal king. However, another button may just be mass-produced in a factory and have thousands that look just like it. The world may never know.

Interested in classic Fords and want to learn more? Come visit this classic Ford Model T and many others at Harold Warp Pioneer Village located in Minden, Nebraska. 

History

The Ford Model T first debuted in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan, and was sold until 1927. The launch of the Model T was different than any other launch before because it was one of the first mass-production vehicles which meant it was available for lots of customers. As mentioned on Ford’s website, Ford Motor Company could sell the vehicle for between $260 and $850 as Henry Ford passed production savings on to his customers. 

What’s cool about this is that since the car was so cheap, many people could afford it with 4 to 18 months’ salary. With this amazing price, almost 40 percent of cars sold at that time were Model Ts.

About the Car

The Model T came with many different variations like two-seat runabouts, five-seat touring, and a seven-seat town car. Its body was mounted in a 100-inch wheelbase chassis. In the beginning, the car was offered in many different colors, however, after 1913, the only color that you could buy was black. 

This vehicle also had its engine block and crankcase as one unit. It was made of four cylinders and could detach the cylinder head for easy access and repair. The engine came with 20 horsepower and could reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour. According to Britannica, “In most Models, the engine was started by a hand crank, which activated a magneto connected to the flywheel, but after 1919 some Models were equipped with battery-powered starters.” The car came with a 2-speed transmission with two forward gears and one reverse. The transmission was also smooth. It was a planetary type, controlled by a hand lever. 

The Model T had a fuel capacity of 10 gallons. One interesting fact about the Model T is that gasoline was fed to the engine by gravity and reverse gear had more power than forwarding gears. This made a bit of a problem going uphill, so people put it in reverse. The early Models came with a tool kit, packed the gas tank under the front seat, and the option to either have windshield or not because it wasn’t standardized back then. It was also the first to make the lightweight but strong alloy known as vanadium steel. 

Nickname and Popularity

The Ford Model T also had its unique nickname called “Tin Lizzie.” There are many theories about how this name originated, some say that origins include the popularity of the female name “Lizzie” during that time, some say that it was a generic name given to a horse and was passed on to the Model T.

Ford was already a big automotive back then. As early as 1920, more than half of the registered automobiles in the world were Ford. They sold more than 15 million Model T’s and it ended its era in 1927. Even though this vehicle is more than 100 years old, this vehicle is iconic because it introduced new features at a low cost and revolutionized manufacturing.

As the West expanded in the 1840s with events like the Oregon Trail and the Gold Rush people flocked to the unknown of the west, receiving a letter was a big deal in the 1800s. This expansion was great but journeying into the unknown came with zero established communications. How would people travel east to west fast enough  to be able to spread information in time? William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell created a relay system that spread from Missouri to California, about 1,966 miles, in just 10 days. This was the fastest and most practical way to be able to spread information quickly. The original names were Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express company but was later known as the Pony Express Station. This relay system that started in 1860 had stations  along a direct route through eight states. At each station, a rider and horse would be waiting. Once one rider arrived at a station, the rider waiting would then take the mail and travel to the next station. Passing it along until it reached its destination. The riders for the stations had certain requirements and most of the riders were only 100-125 pounds to keep the horse’s load light. 

Though the Pony Express was only operational for about 18 months, until the telegraph station took over, it became well known and is still a solid part of the communication history today. Here at Pioneer Village an original Pony Express Station has been restored so you can see it as what it would’ve looked like in all its glory. Along with it, is a replica of an original Pony Express Barn complete with model horses, historic saddles, and items dug up at Fort Kearney. Some of these saddles include an original Pony Express Saddle and one of the four unique original Buffalo Bill Cody Saddles made in Omaha, NE. Buffalo Bill Cody’s house and museum are not too far located in North Platte and would be a great day trip! 

Obtaining the Pony Express Station took a while as Harold Warp tried a couple times to get it from Bridgeport, Nebraska where it was originally a Pumpkinseed relay station for the Black Hills. In 1953 Harold offered $100 for it but was turned down as the town of Bridgeport planned to restore it and create a park around it. After 2 years, they reached back out to Pioneer Village by mail and asked if they would still take it for the original price offered. In Sister Clara’s letter, she quoted Harold who said, “Get it right away before they change their minds again.” Apparently, it was going to be a while before Bridgeport would be able to add a park and they hadn’t been able to restore it at all within the last 2 years. For these reasons it was given to Pioneer Village for just $100!

They spent a lot of time restoring it and filling it with authentic antiques from that time. They poured a foundation for it to sit on first just east of the church in the famous Circle at Pioneer Village. It was Harold who suggested this, and it stuck! They also redid the roof and added new shingles to it on a day Sister Clara deemed beautiful. Once the Relay Station was restored, they also built an authentic barn to go beside and complete the look. 

Come visit Pioneer Village to see this truly historical site with a complete Station and Barn. In it see how the riders on the Pony Express lived and how the horses lived too! Ride into the 1860s by stepping into this original building!

If you like horses then you would have loved getting around back in the day. That is, until the steam powered engine came along.
However, prior to ingenuity and modernized ways of travel, in the 1800-1900’s people needed a way in which they could travel. The best way for this was a stagecoach. 

What is a stagecoach

A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. A fact I found very interesting about stagecoaches is that not only would they be on a constant schedule of transportation to people in the country, but they would run on a normal schedule just as a bus would do today in modern times. Also, just as a car would need a change of tires, staging stations would have fresh horses that would be swapped out to keep the stagecoaches moving. On average, a stagecoach would travel about 5 miles per hour and covered roughly a distance of 60-70 miles. However, with modifications being made, some stagecoaches were able to reach speeds of up to 10 miles per hour. Over the course of time, these stagecoaches really made a mark in the U.S. and some of them became very famous as well. That is why it is so fascinating that Pioneer Village has so many on display for viewers to really take a glimpse at and get an idea of what it would be like to travel in such a vehicle. 

Conestoga

One of the most famous wagon/ stagecoaches was known as the Conestoga wagon. From 1820-1840, the Conestoga Wagon was at its peak usage. The wagon was used mainly in the state of Pennsylvania and neighboring states such as Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia. However, that is just where the Conestoga was most prominent; the stagecoach was all over Canada as well as the U.S. There is a  misconception that the Conestoga was very useful for the Westward migration. What people don’t realize, however, is that the Conestoga was a heavier wagon and was not very useful for long treks. 

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is on the opposite side of the U.S. and was very prominent in the western hemisphere. It is also equally, if not more so, famous than the Conestoga. Movies have been made of this stagecoach and it is a very important piece of U.S. civilization of the past.

The Wells Fargo was used heavily more towards California to haul gold and precious metals at the time of the goldrush. According to the Western Historical Quarterly, in March 1854 alone, $2,618,404 worth of gold dust was brought into San Francisco using these stagecoaches. Due to how much value was being hauled by the Wells Fargos, they became a very enticing target for robbers back in the day. You know how it goes; we have all seen the movies of the wild wild west and the stickups that settlers would encounter. Well, this is the reasoning behind that. 

Thinking of transportation now, it is so impressive and overlooked how travel has changed. With these facts in mind and even if you are fond of horses, would you still be into the stagecoach life now?