Top 10 True Western Towns of 2008
Categories: Featured Travel Stories
By: TW Editors 01/02/2008
Towns to Watch
GUTHRIE, OK
One of our favorite Old West places, downtown Guthrie is the largest historic district in the country. Block after block, it’s like stepping back into 1900—thanks to the savvy planning and work of citizens and officials. A visit to the Territorial Museum is a must; check out its silent films featuring authentic lawmen and outlaws. The 89er Celebration, held each April, commemorates the Land Rush that started in Guthrie; it includes a parade and a PRCA rodeo.
HELPER, UT
Our 2007 Top True Western Town isn’t large (about 2,000 residents), but it has a big commitment to preserving its heritage. Original Victorian buildings grace the downtown, with the centerpiece being the Western Mining & Railroad Museum, housed in the 1914 Helper Hotel. Exhibits feature a simulated coal mine, authentic rail cars and the 1897 robbery at nearby Castle Gate by Butch Cassidy and Co. The Wild Bunch chief reportedly visited Helper on several occasions; what better endorsement is there?
LONE PINE, CA
The tree from which the town is named is long gone, but much of its history still lives on in the frontier-style buildings dating back to the 19th century. The natural beauty is astounding, with both Mt. Whitney and Death Valley close by. Lone Pine is probably best known for its annual film festival (October 10-12 this year), which helps honor the area’s movie heritage, dating back to 1920. Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy and Clint Eastwood all did Oaters here. It just looks and feels Western.
NORTHFIELD, MN
A Western town? Yep—it is west of the Mississippi (barely). And it was the site of the James-Younger Gang raid of 1876. The town celebrates that each September with the Defeat of Jesse James Days, perhaps the best re-enactment you can find. The Northfield Historical Society has a great museum featuring photos from the robbery and the eventual capture of the Youngers. The First National Bank has been restored to look the way it did the day the gang was shot to pieces.
SILVER CITY, NM
The one-time home of Billy the Kid is a preservation success story. Some 40 years ago, the downtown was filled with boarded up buildings. Today, that same area is a national historic district, with numerous old buildings transformed into modern businesses of all kinds. The Silver City Museum (housed in an 1881 home) celebrates the area’s varied heritage—Hispanic, Indian and American. And the Western New Mexico University Museum features a remarkable collection of prehistoric pottery and artifacts.
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Trinidad Colorado! Great choice! Thank you TW editors for choosing Trinidad ... now everyone knows what we've known for a long time. And thanks to all the Trinidad folks who helped you gather the information you needed.
As a Native of Colorado, western slope, I appreciated your choosing Durango and Trinidad! Creede (?) don't know that one, but if it's in Colorado it's got to be OK. However, since Denver is no longer a "cow-town" and the City has become a "little L.A.", we now live in Cody, Wyoming, which IS a cow-town. I am glad to see that others are also seeing the beauty in Cody. Talk about ART, some of the best western art is right here with our galleries and, of course, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.
Plus, we're only 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park - the recreational opportunities are endless including a number of guest ranches. Come see us; and when you decide you want to stay, come see me at Homestead Realty.
Posting above by stjomo is completely toxic. I have restored one of the oldest homes in St Joseph and can tell you the interest from San Diego, California & Los Angeles is quite stimulating. I have had many guest from the California area visit my home and I have taken most of those guest on a tour of St. Joseph, Missouri and they were awed as if they had seen the glory of God. They wanted to get out of our car and take home tours right there on location. They said St. Joseph is like a fairy tail book with castles upon castles.
I have visited San Diego & Los Angeles and found it to be of no comparison though there are some beautiful architectural structures in Balboa Park in San Diego and a couple of other buildings but in St. Joseph it is spread over the better half of town. One of my friends from the west coast stood in my yard extending each of her arms out, grinning from ear to ear saying, "I had to head east to find the gold."
I had some historians from California asking if they could photograph my yard as their ancestors use to own a Victorian boot company here and they told me my home in Los Angeles would cost 1.2 million as they just looked at one like ours.
Some described the homes in our area as jewels they were interested in investing in. Some were amazed that my home was built in 1848 so I showed them the abstract and the blue print of our Princess Ann. They didn't realize that architecture followed the life of Queen Ann so they were thinking all the houses that have cones on the roofs were the oldest and surprised that many of the homes with mansard roofs were actually older as the Queen Ann's were built in the 1860's.
I had one person from California tell me she was originally from Idaho and I ask her if she was familiar with William Ridenbaugh, "No she replied but she mentioned the Ridenbaugh Canal and I told her you are in the home of the Ridenbaugh's and the Ridenbaugh you have mentioned is the son of William Ridenbaugh whom started the St. Joseph News Press and it was his son that build the Ridenbaugh Canal.
My friends from San Diego were surprised to learn that it was seven nuns from Kirksville Missouri that founded their town. They were amazed to learn that some of the most elite of society has come from Missouri and not surprisingly many from St. Joseph.
You will not be disappointed to visit St. Joseph, Missouri as it is totally exciting here, from a photographers point of view. ;>)
So glad to see that Trinidad is finally getting recognized for the historical architecture and scenic beauty that we have enjoyed for years. www.SouthernColoradoRealty.com is a great way to check out real estate listings in the Trinidad, Colorado area.
PROPERTY VIDEOS at www.ranchviews.com
Las Animas County and Trinidad Colorado are great places to live and retire. We came here 9 years ago and found incredible land, lower prices, and taxes so low that they almost don't exist.
The area weather is great with an even four season climate. 82 degree average summer temp and 50 degree average winter temp. It snows and stays around long enough for you to have some hot chocolate and say ahhhh isn't that nice. Then, the snow goes away.
Check out some PROPERTY VIDEOs at www.ranchviews.com
Todd Gatza
Broker
Trinidad Land Realty
719 680 0690
You also forgot to mention that the hanging site of Horn is on the second floor of the original courthouse. Just outside the door to the D.A.'s office
st. Joseph is nothing like the city described in this article. The two preservation societies mentioned have disbanded in frustration. Downtown is a ghost town( not one you would like) and preservation is at an all time low. Yes, there are lovely historic homes, if you want to wear blinkers while you drive by crumbling ruins of amazing homes which abound en route to the few which are treated with dignity. If you spend your money to come see a piece of the Old West, you will be in for nothing but disappointment. Try the other nine cities, and skip St. Joseph. We are too busy destroying our heritage here to bother with tourists.