The ''King Of The Prairies''

"King" of the Western Prairies.

       The  Buffalo,  or  Bison,  has  been  called  the  "  King  of  the  Prairies,"  but, alas!  it  is  king  no  longer.  The  march  of  man  across  the  plains  has  driven  the buffalo  out  of  existence.  It  is  a  dull  and  stupid  animal,  which  accounts  for allowing  itself  to  be  so  easily  tracked ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  has  immense strength  and  great  speed.  The  Indian  found  that  the  buffalo  supplied  him with  almost  everything  he  needed :  hide,  wool,  fat,  and  meat.  Armed  only with  a  bow  and  arrow,  he  killed  but  few  of  the  vast  herds  which  roamed  the plains  north  of  the  Platte  River.  Then came  the  white  man  with  the  rifle,  and the  result  is  that  the  buffalo  has  vanished.  Not  a  single  wild  specimen  lives today.  In  a  few  shows,  notably  Buffalo  Bill's,  in  private  collections  both  in this  country  and  in  England,  and  in  the  Yellowstone  Park,  the  buffalo  still lives,  guarded  jealously  from  harm.  Thirty  years  ago  it  was  a  common  sight to  see  countless  thousands  of  these  mighty  creatures  together.  The  huge  collection of  skulls  and  bones  testify  to  what  their  numbers  must have  been. Many  methods  were  used  to  kill  the  buffalo  wholesale,  and  one  was  to  take advantage  of  the  large  ravines  through  which  the  western  rivers  run.  The herds  were  surrounded  on  three  sides,  leaving  the  only  avenue  of  escape  over the  precipice.  At  a  given  signal,  all  the  men  would  rush  in,  yelling  and waving  hats.  The  herd  would  promptly  rush  off.  As  soon  as  the  leaders reached  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  they  would  try  to  back  away,  but  the  numbers behind  would  force  them  on,  and  thus  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  wipe  out a  whole  herd.
       The  white  man  usually  hunted  the  buffalo  from  horseback.  This  method is  much  more  successful.  It  takes  pluck  to  enter  a  herd  and  separate  a  member and  shoot  it  down  while  going  at  full  speed.  In  spite  of  its  timid  nature, the  buffalo  is  a  terrible  foe  when  brought  to  bay. 

• The Story of A Buffalo

 

Kids can learn to draw an American Buffalo at Thrifty Scissors.

Color Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

Pin this image only please.

       William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody (February 26, 1846 – January 10, 1917) was an American soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), in Le Claire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US Army as a scout. One of the most colorful figures of the American Old West, Buffalo Bill became famous for the shows he organized with cowboy themes, which he toured in Great Britain and Europe as well as the United States.

Newspaper ad from 1902 about Buffalo Bill

      William Frederick Cody ("Buffalo Bill") got his nickname after the American Civil War when he had a contract to supply Kansas Pacific Railroad workers with buffalo meat. Cody earned the nickname by killing 4,280 American bison (commonly known as buffalo) in eighteen months, (1867–1868). Cody and William Comstock competed in a buffalo-shooting match over the exclusive right to use the name, which Cody won by killing 68 bison to Comstock's 48.

      Cody had documented service as a soldier during the Civil War and as Chief of Scouts for the Third Cavalry during the Plains Wars. He claimed to have had many jobs, including as a trapper, bullwhacker, "Fifty-Niner" in Colorado, a Pony Express rider in 1860, wagonmaster, stagecoach driver, and a hotel manager, but historians have had difficulty documenting them, and he may have fabricated some for publicity.

      He became world famous for his Wild West shows, which toured in Great Britain and Europe. Audiences were enthusiastic about seeing a piece of the American West. The adventure story writer Emilio Salgari met Buffalo Bill in Italy, saw his show, and later featured him as a hero in some of his novels. Read more . . .

"This is an experiment of mine, being a compilation of the footage of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show shot by the Thomas Edison film company. The source is the Library of Congress' American Memory archives, and the footage of the parade, Annie Oakley, Native American dancing and bronc riding is everything on there I could find related to Buffalo Bill. The music is a recording of a turn-of-the-century Pianola roll."

More Related Coloring Pages:

• Wild West Wanted Posters
• Buffalo Bill, May 11, 1887
• Portrait of Buffalo Bill
• Stamp of Buffalo Bill that you can color

"Buffalo Bill The Hero Horseman who has ridden from ocean to ocean; from the Rio Grande to the Danube;
 o'er mountain peaks and plains, thus saluting more people than any other living man. You will find him in the
saddle twice daily, rain or shine." This drawing originated from an actual newspaper ad of Buffalo Bill's
Wild West Show in 1902. Enjoy coloring part of America's western past.

Laura's Life: A Comprehensive Internet Guide to The Little House Series

Laura and Almanzo Wilder pictured with their last home.

       Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, most notably the author of the Little House series of children's novels based on her childhood in a pioneer family. Her daughter Rose encouraged Laura in her writing and helped Laura edit and publish her novels. Read more...

• Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl
• Beyond Little House: Comprehensive Laura Ingalls Wilder Blog
• Pioneer Girl, Laura Ingalls Wilder A-Z
• De Smet, South Dakota: The Little Town on the Prairie
• Mansfield, Missouri: Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home
• Independence, Kansas: The Little House on the Prairie
• Walnut Grove, Minnesota: Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
• Burr Oak, Iowa: Wilder Museum
• Malone, New York: Almanzo Wilder Farm
• The Ingalls Wilder Family Songbook at Music of the United States of America (MUSA)
• Bibliography, transcriptions, and images of all of Laura's Missouri Ruralist articles
• Laura Ingalls Wilder family letters:Highlights The Wisconsin Historical Society
• Laura Ingalls Wilder at Find a Grave

       Little House on the Prairie is a media franchise that started with a series of children's books by Laura Ingalls Wilder that were originally published between 1932 and 1943. Read more...

• Complete guide to the world of little house on the prairie, and a special guide to pioneer life.
• Little House on the Prairie original site near Independence, Kansas
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, located in De Smet, South Dakota
• The Little House archive, bibliography for the series, its spinoffs, and Little House scholarship.
• All about the Show on Series-80.net
• Little House Wiki : littlehouse.wikia.com/wiki/Little_House_Wiki
• The LITTLE HOUSE Encyclopedia, devoted to the television series and spinoffs
• Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl – Comprehensive site
• Pioneer Girl, Fact and Fiction of Laura Ingalls Wilder, A–Z – Comprehensive site
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Walnut Grove, MN 

Rose Wilder Lane.

       Rose Wilder Lane (December 5, 1886 – October 30, 1968) was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, and political theorist. She is noted—with Ayn Rand and Isabel Paterson—as one of the founding mothers of the American libertarian movement. Read more...

• Works by Rose Wilder Lane at Internet Archive
• Rose Wilder Lane (1886–1968), from the Cato Institute.
• Rose Wilder Lane: Pioneer of Liberty, by Amy Lauters, from Legacy.com.
• "The Libertarian Legacy of Rose Wilder Lane" by Jeff Riggenbach
• Lane's 1923 expedition in the Syrian Desert

Caroline and Charles Ingalls. Replica cabin.

        Aside from American author Laura Ingalls Wilder's original Little House series, several series of books for juveniles, young adults and adults have also been published. These separate series are fictionalized accounts of the lives of Wilder's great-grandmother Martha Morse Tucker, grandmother Charlotte Tucker Quiner, mother Caroline Ingalls, daughter Rose Wilder Lane's childhood and teenage years and Wilder's own missing adult years. In addition, simplified versions of the original series have been published for younger children in chapter and picture book form. Read more ...

• Official Homepage about the books
• Harper Collins homepage, with information about Little House

Lesson plans for teachers:

• Laura Ingalls Wilder Lesson Plans from Garden of Praise
• Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Educational Resources for Homeschoolers & Teachers
• Little House in the Big Woods Unit Study
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Teaching Unit - For Educators
• The Family of Laura Ingalls Wilder Faces The Civil War
• Visit Laura Ingalls Wilder: Frontier Girl and write about what you discover there.

Take a little Field Trip:

• Take a family field trip to Ingalls Homestead in De Smet South Dakota
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Pepin, Wisconsin
• Laura's Museum on the Kansas Prairie
• Laura's Last Home in Mansfield, Mo.
• Almonzo Wilder's Boyhood Home in Malone, NY
• The Wilder home in Spring Valley, Minnesota
  

Crafts & Activities Perfect for Laura's books:

• A little place on the prairie by Heather Cahoon
• A Listing of Pioneer Crafts for Kids
• Doll Arts: Giant Corn Husk Pinboard
• Pioneer Taffy Recipe by Jamie
• Meet the Ingalls Peg Doll Family
• Little House on the Prairie Art Project Ideas
• Make Pure Maple Candy
• Prairie, yarn, rag doll tutorial
• Baking Biscuits
• Little House - Big Adventures
• Hobby Maple Syrup Production
• Bake Savory Corn Cakes
• Laura's Travels Map
• How to Make Butter
• Simple Paper Log Cabin
• Pretzel Rod Cabins and Homemade Rag Dolls by Brenda Johnston
• A Little House Party by oh Amanda
• Cabin from a phone book
• Log Cabin Our of Paper Bags (Little House on the Prairie Craft)
• A hand-dipped beeswax candle tutorial
• Pioneer Bonnet Tutorial
• Free Simple Doll Patterns for Rag Dolls
• Buildings and Businesses in a Pioneer Town
• Make Your Own Little House Journal

Little House Lap Books:

• Laura and Mary Ingalls Dolls, artifacts, doll play at The Doll Coloring Book
• Little House on the Prairie Lapbook video
• A Little House on the Prairie Story Study Lapbook
• Little House in the Big Woods Lapbook
• By the Shores of Silver Lake Lapbook
• By the Shores of Silver Lake Lapbook
• Farmer Boy Lapbook
• On the Banks of Plum Creek Lapbook
• The First Four Years Lapbook
• The Long Winter Lapbook
• These Happy Golden Years
• Little Town on the Prairie Story Study Lapbook
• Pioneers Lapbook - Hands of a Child | CurrClick
• Laura's Little House in the Big Woods - A Journey Through Learning | CurrClick
• Habitats - Grasslands/Prairie - The Teacher's Desk.info | CurrClick

Melissa Gilbert, child actress.

       Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, and Karen Grassle, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show is an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books. Television producer and NBC executive Ed Friendly became aware of the story in the early 1970s. He asked Michael Landon to direct the pilot movie, who agreed on the condition that he could also play Charles Ingalls. Read more...

• Little House on the Prairie at the Internet Movie Database
• Little House: Look Back to Yesterday at the Internet Movie Database
• Little House: The Last Farewell at the Internet Movie Database
• Little House: Bless All the Dear Children at the Internet Movie Database

      Little House on the Prairie is a book musical adapted from the children's books, Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The creative team includes Rachel Sheinkin (book), Rachel Portman (music), Donna di Novelli (lyrics), and Francesca Zambello (director). The musical premiered in regional theatre at the Guthrie, Minneapolis, Minnesota, followed by a tour in 2009-2010 of the United States, starting at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. Read more...

• Little House on the Prairie, the Musical official website
• Little House on the Prairie - the Musical Facebook page (linked from official website) offers the possibility that only the first year of the traveling show has come to an end. Retrieved 2012 April 30.
• "Music Fom A Little House, December 14, 2009 playbill.com article
• Review, Newark Star-Ledger, September 21, 2009

       "The inspirational stories of Little House on The Prairie, one of the most beloved literary celebrations of pioneering America since Laura Ingalls Wilder published the first book of her classic series 75 years ago, take on a brand new frontier in this uplifting new musical. Melissa Gilbert, who we embraced as Laura for 10 years in the much-loved television series, is all grown up and stars as Ma. Through the magic of live theater, audiences will follow the Ingalls family journey westward to make a better life for their children. Recommended for the entire family, Little House on The Prairie, The Musical brings the joys and sorrows of family life during the settlement of the prairie to contemporary America. Families will identify with its life-affirming stories that celebrate the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded." Visit The Kansas City Starlight Theatre on YouTube