The nature of the Wild West 150 years ago

Thanks to the westerns, the Wild West seems to be full of romance and associated with cowboys, Mustangs faithful, and smart colts.

Wild West is the name of the area in the years 1860-1890, located in present-day American States of Montana, new Mexico, Colorado, Texas and others, which gradually expanded and moved westward to the Pacific ocean.

1. In 1860-1870-ies of the photographer Timothy O'sullivan has created one of the most famous collections of images in American history. Photos of Timothy O'sullivan | Library of Congress.

2. Wild West was inhabited by Indians who were driven from their land, giving them in return barren territory. Utah, in 1872:

3. Two "hill" near the town of green river, Wyoming, 1972:

4. Together with the white settlers of the West came a new and disease. So the Indians had to resist the relocation of whites to the West and armed clashes between Indians and settlers continued throughout the XIX century. Nevada, 1867:

5. The rocks of tufa in the lake in Nevada, 1867:

6. National monument Canyon De Sheyi in northeastern Arizona, 1873:

7. Old Church, new Mexico, 1873-year:

8. During the expedition the team photographer O'sullivan (fourth from left) were soldiers, scientists, artists. The picture also shows three of the local residents and the Colorado river. 1871:

9. Mountain valley in Colorado, 1872:

10. Of Shoshone falls, Idaho, 1874. This beautiful waterfall called the "Niagara of the West." The height of Shoshoni is about 65 meters — 11 meters higher than Niagara falls. The width of the waterfall — 274 meters:

11. The Colorado river in iceberg canyon, 1871:

12. The wagon of the author of these photos Timothy O Sullivan, drawn by four mules in the desert of Nevada, 1867:

13. Wooden road for trucks, leading to the mining of gold, Illinois, 1871:

14. Canyon De Sheyi, 1873:

15. Indians, new Mexico, 1873:

16. The canyons in Utah, 1872:

17. Canyon, Colorado, in 1872:

18. Boat expedition photographer Timothy O'sullivan in Western Nevada, in 1867:

19. Wooden houses in the town in Utah, 1873:

20. Rock formation, Wyoming, in 1872:

21. Oak grove, White mountains, Arizona, 1873:

22. Another picture of Shoshone falls, Idaho, 1868:

23. National monument El Morro, new Mexico, 1873. Note the small figure of the man below. This familiarity with nature of the Wild West came to an end.