Cowboys & Outlaws

The Golden Era of the American cowboy was a powder keg of history a period of conquest, war and money. In these brief but tumultuous years following the Civil War, men and women endured astonishing hardship and danger, from battles with Indians and outlaws, to nature's own brutalities. Yet for a few extraordinary individuals, it was a time of incredible opportunity. Cowboys drove millions of steers from Texas along cattle trails to northern railroad heads. Their daring but solitary journeys established cowboys as heroes whose strength and character made them the ultimate icons of their time. But the hazardous frontier, where the law often amounted to little more than a man with a badge and a posse, also bred some of America's most infamous outlaws, whose reputations still inspire awe. Discover the legendary qualities of these amazing men in this visually stunning series from HISTORY. Combining dramatic reenactments of some of the era's most revealing moments, with forensic evidence and surprising new documentary twists, Cowboys and Outlaws unveils the true tales and characters of the American West.

The Golden Era of the American cowboy was a powder keg of history a period of conquest, war and money. In these brief but tumultuous years following the Civil War, men and women endured astonishing hardship and danger, from battles with Indians and outlaws, to nature's own brutalities. Yet for a few extraordinary individuals, it was a time of incredible opportunity. Cowboys drove millions of steers from Texas along cattle trails to northern railroad heads. Their daring but solitary journeys established cowboys as heroes whose strength and character made them the ultimate icons of their time. But the hazardous frontier, where the law often amounted to little more than a man with a badge and a posse, also bred some of America's most infamous outlaws, whose reputations still inspire awe. Discover the legendary qualities of these amazing men in this visually stunning series from HISTORY. Combining dramatic reenactments of some of the era's most revealing moments, with forensic evidence and surprising new documentary twists, Cowboys and Outlaws unveils the true tales and characters of the American West.

Two cattle partners set off to blaze a trail to reach new markets. Only one returns. The epic adventure of Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving defines the spirit of the American cowboy and the brutal reality of the West in the wake of the Civil War.

This is the true story behind one of the most notorious names from the Golden Age of the Wild West. Who was "Billy the Kid?" A cold-blooded killer who murdered 21 men? Or an orphaned teenager driven to avenge the death of the only man who offered him a place to belong? Welcome to gang warfare--Wild West style.

The notorious Tom Horn, hanged for a murder of a 14-year-old boy in 1903, is a pivotal figure in the taming of the Old West. A cowboy-turned-range-detective for big ranchers, he built a fearsome reputation as a professional hit man. Was he a cold-hearted assassin or a framed innocent man?

In 1889, Wyoming erupts in the West's most brutal range war--a campaign of terror pitting the wealthy cattle barons against the homesteaders, and "the powerful" against "the people." From barn burnings to lynchings to gangland slayings, the barons will stop at nothing to defend their claim to thousands of acres of government land.