Unsettling Photos That Show The Dark Side of the Wild West

 Olive Oatman was abducted and sold to the Mojave tribe who made a noticeable blue tattoo on her face

History books tell us a simple story about the Old West. There are stories of cowboys, Native Americans, and law west of the Pecos... but that's not the whole story. These beautifully colored photographs tell the true story of the Wild West.

These snapshots of gunslingers, lawmen, and '49ers in pursuit of gold will show you what the history books never could. Take a closer look... In each picture you will find the story of a whole life full of ups and downs.

Each rare color photo collected here has the potential to transport you back to one of America's most beloved eras... when the West was still being conquered. Keep searching and discovering the true story of the Old West.

Olive Oatman was sold to the Mojave people in 1851 after she was abducted by an unknown Native American tribe in what is now Arizona. He spent five years living with them. During that time he got a tattoo done on his face with blue ink which you can clearly see in the photo.

Ottman was released after half a decade and immediately returned home. A book was written about her time with Mohave and she went on a tour that helped push sales to over 30,000 copies. After Hubb died she moved to Sherman, Texas, where she became involved in charity work while covering up her tattoos.

Annie Oakley posing with her trusty gun 💥

The greatest shot in the Wild West, Annie Oakley can hit a target on a moonlit night in thick fog. Born as Phoebe Ann Moses, she began shooting at the age of 15 and quickly rose to local fame after winning a shooting competition. It didn't take long for him to start adding a tinge of showmanship to his routine.

Shortly afterwards she joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show with Frank Butler – the man she bested in a marksmanship contest. As her fame grew, Oakley inspired women to follow in her footsteps. She went as far as petitioning the US government with a group of female sharpshooters for permission to bear arms during World War I, but her request was denied.

A gold mine with a reward in 1851

Taken in 1851, this color photograph shows a goldsmith deep in the excitement of the Gold Rush that turned the American Southwest into a must-see destination for those seeking to strike it rich. Shown here with his pan and axe, these were the tools needed to get the job done. All that was needed to create a mint was determination.

The biggest problem with gold mining was that there was little of it to go around. There were only so many gold deposits in the 19th century and once they were gone it was pretty much game over for people coming out west by the end of the rush. By the close of the 1850s it was no longer possible for an individual to get rich by discovering gold.

Bas Reeves, the inspiration for The Lone Ranger

Considered to have inspired The Lone Ranger, Bass Reeves was one of the first African-American lawmen of the Old West. Born a slave in Arkansas in 1838, he was drafted to fight for the Confederate Army after years in Texas. During his time in the army he fled to Oklahoma, then known as Native Territory.

After the ratification of the 13th Amendment, Bass raised more than 10 children in Arkansas before returning to Oklahoma, where he began apprehending criminals coming into the area. West of the Mississippi the first black U.S. As marshal, he arrested over 3,000 criminals without firing a single shot. Bass was one of the best-known and beloved lawmen of the era.

Mugshot of Goldie Williams after her arrest for vagrancy in Omaha, Nebraska, 1898

This might be the greatest mugshot ever. On January 29, 1898, five-foot-tall and 110-pound Goldie Williams (aka Meg Murphy) was caught for "vagrancy" in Omaha, Nebraska, and she was ready to give the police a piece of her mind. It's unclear what exactly "vagrancy" means, but it seems likely that he was arrested before.

Note Goldie's feathered hat and gorgeous overcoat, was she really a vagabond or was she something more. Her arrest record states that her left index finger was broken and she had a cut below her right wrist. Whatever happened that night, she was not happy about it.