Outlaws and Sodbusters

In Liberal, Kansas , a "tourist attraction" - the hideout of the infamous Dalton gang.

Dodge City

Thriving rail yard - grain, fertilizers, beef - on the Santa Fe Trail. Decrepit town - many of the stores were Hispanic, except for a Chinese take-out. I can imagine his forebears were railroad workers who have been there since the 1880's.

Boise City, Oklahoma

One of the No -Mans land Dust Bowl towns profiled in Worst Bad Times. Homestead Act opened the migration, aided by the corrupt land promoters and railroad come-ons. This town, said the promoters, was the jewel of the west. Named Boise (French woods) for all the trees. There were artisan wells and the richest soil in the west. The town had been laid out with street lights, and an opera house was underway. Even Germans from Russia were lured there (long story). And after an arduous journey, the settlers found nothing but stakes in a stark and arid grass landscape. Town today isn't much, but is functioning. Many of the small abandoned houses are still standing .