Myth or Legend: Jesse James

When we think of the American West, we often envision a cowboy saving the day and riding off into the sunset. Nostalgia often sets in, and we begin to wish for simpler times when the good guys and the bad guys were distinguishable, when everything was so simple. Unfortunately, those times never existed; what remains in our minds is the romanticized version of the American West, synthesized by Hollywood. John Henry, Paul Bunyan, and Pecos …

…the stories of the American West may be. Jesse James should not be confused with the fabricated and stereotypical West. The stories about him were very true and many people lost their lives and jobs because of the gang. It’s quite easy to get caught up in all of the romance of the West but much of it is false. Jesse James on the other hand, is one great true legends of the West.