The legacy of the cowboy and the lore of the Old West lives on in the American culture because of the famous cowboys and the authors who immortalized them and the actors who made them real.

Wild Bill Hickok (1837–1876) was a legendary figure of the American Old West. Known for his adventurous life as a scout, lawman, gambler, and gunfighter, he became one of the most famous frontier heroes of the 19th century. His exploits, often dramatized...