25 Real Photos of Wild West Icons From 1860-1910

All History 2 days ago

When most people think of the Wild West, their minds immediately go to the movies and TV shows that have mythologized the era—gunslingers dueling at high noon, outlaws robbing stagecoaches, and sheriffs bringing order to lawless towns. But there’s something truly remarkable about seeing actual photographs of the real people who inspired those stories. These images capture the faces of larger-than-life characters who lived in a time of grit, rebellion, and untamed landscapes.

From infamous outlaws to heroic lawmen and even sharpshooting performers, these photos bring the legends of the Wild West to life in a way no Hollywood movie ever could.

1. Butch Cassidy (seated, right), pictured with the Wild Bunch Gang

A sepia-toned vintage photograph of five men in suits and bowler hats. Three are seated in front, while two stand behind them. They pose formally in a studio with a painted backdrop.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: April 13, 1866 – November 7, 1908 (disputed).

Known For: Leader of the Wild Bunch gang, specialized in bank and train robberies.

Photo Taken: 1901

2. Sundance Kid (Harry Longabaugh) pictured with Etta James before they sailed for South America

A vintage sepia-toned photograph of a man and a woman standing side by side. The man is wearing a dark suit and holding a hat, while the woman is dressed in a long dark gown with intricate details. A painted backdrop is behind them.

Born/Death: 1867 – November 7, 1908 (disputed)

Known For: Partner of Butch Cassidy; member of the Wild Bunch gang. Pictured seated left in the previous slide with Butch Cassidy.

Photo Taken: 1901

3. Jesse James

A vintage black and white oval portrait of a man with short hair and a beard, wearing a suit with a bow tie. He is looking slightly to the left. The style suggests a historical era photograph.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882

Known For: Leader of the James-Younger Gang, infamous for robbing banks, trains, and stagecoaches.

Photo Taken: 1876

4. Billy The Kid

A sepia-toned vintage photo shows a person standing in cowboy attire, holding a rifle. They are wearing a hat, a jacket over a vest, and boots. The background is plain, giving an old-time Western feel.
Ben Wittick / Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: November 23, 1859 – July 14, 1881

Known For: Infamous outlaw and gunslinger involved in the Lincoln County War.

Photo Taken: 1880 (Ben Wittick)

5. Belle Starr

Left: A woman in a long, dark dress and wide-brimmed hat holds a revolver while standing next to a chair. Right: A woman wearing a similar outfit sits astride a horse in front of a wooden building. Both images are in black and white.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: February 5, 1848 – February 3, 1889

Known For: Female outlaw and horse thief known as the “Bandit Queen.”

Photo Taken: Left: Early 1880s, Right: 1886

6. Black Bart (Charles E. Boles)

Black and white portrait of an older man with a prominent mustache, looking slightly to the right. The man has short hair and is wearing a dark suit with a visible collared shirt underneath. The background is plain and blurred.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: 1829 – Disappeared after 1888.

Known For: Gentleman stagecoach robber who left poetic notes at crime scenes.

Photo Taken: 1888

7. Wild Bill Longley (William Preston Longley)

A sepia-toned photograph of a man with a mustache and goatee, wearing a suit with a bowtie. The image is slightly faded and worn, with visible marks and damage.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: October 6, 1851 – October 11, 1878

Known For: Notorious gunfighter and outlaw known for his temper and deadly aim.

Photo Taken: 1878

8. Sam Bass

A sepia-toned portrait of a man with a well-groomed mustache and short hair. He is wearing a dark suit with a bow tie and a high-collared shirt. The background is plain, highlighting his formal attire and serious expression.

Born/Death: July 21, 1851 – July 21, 1878

Known For: Train and stagecoach robber with a Robin Hood-like reputation.

Photo Taken: 1870s

9. Doc Holliday

A black-and-white vintage portrait of a man with a prominent mustache wearing a suit and bow tie. The image appears old and has a grainy texture, typical of 19th-century photography.

Born/Death: August 14, 1851 – November 8, 1887

Known For: Gambler, dentist, and gunfighter involved in the OK Corral shootout.

Photo Taken: (circa 1880s)

10. Kid Curry (Harvey Logan), pictured with Annie Rogers (aka Della Moore)

A vintage black and white photograph of a woman and a man. The woman is wearing a high-necked dress with intricate lacework, and the man is in a suit with a bow tie and mustache. They both have neutral expressions.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: 1867 – 1904

Known For: Member of the Wild Bunch gang; known for his violent temper.

Photo Taken: Late 1800s

11. Wyatt Earp

A black and white portrait of a man with short hair and a mustache, wearing a dark suit and patterned tie. The background is plain, and the photo has a vintage, slightly worn appearance.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929

Known For: Legendary lawman, gambler, and participant in the OK Corral shootout.

Photo Taken: Circa late 1860s

12. Bat Masterson

Black and white portrait of a man with short hair and a mustache, wearing a dark suit with a watch chain, leaning on a wooden rail with one arm. The man gazes slightly to the side. The background is plain.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921

Known For: Lawman, journalist, and gambler; kept the peace in Dodge City.

Photo Taken: 1879

13. Pat Garrett

Black-and-white portrait of a man with short hair and a mustache, wearing a three-piece suit with a tie. The backdrop is plain, highlighting his formal attire and composed expression.
Bettmann/Contributor

Born/Death: June 5, 1850 – February 29, 1908

Known For: Sheriff who famously shot Billy the Kid.

Photo Taken: January 1, 1908

14. Bass Reeves

Black and white portrait of a man with a prominent mustache wearing a checkered suit, striped bow tie, and a pin on his lapel. The man is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Born/Death: July 1838 – January 12, 1910

Known For: First Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi.

Photo Taken: Circa 1910

15. Wild Bill Hickok

A sepia-toned vintage portrait of a man with long hair and a mustache, dressed in a suit with a bow tie, looking directly at the camera against a plain background.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: May 27, 1837 – August 2, 1876

Known For: Lawman, gambler, and legendary gunslinger.

Photo Taken: Unknown

16. Calamity Jane

A person dressed in 19th-century frontier attire, including a fringed jacket, holds a rifle. They wear a wide-brimmed hat and have a belt with a holster and ammunition. The sepia-toned image has a floral backdrop.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: May 1, 1852 – August 1, 1903

Known For: Frontierswoman and sharpshooter; associated with Wild Bill Hickok.

Photo Taken: 1880s

17. Buffalo Bill Cody

A person in 19th-century frontier attire with a wide-brimmed hat and tassel-lined jacket holds a long rifle. The sepia-toned image gives a historical feel. The individual sits with a serious expression, embodying a Wild West explorer.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: February 26, 1846 – January 10, 1917.

Known For: Showman who popularized the Wild West in his performances.

Photo Taken: 1880

17. Annie Oakley

Sepia-toned portrait of a woman with long, wavy hair, dressed in a vintage blouse with a laced front and gloves, holding a rifle. She sits in a dignified pose against a plain backdrop.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926

Known For: Sharpshooter and star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show.

Photo Taken: 1880

19. Frank Butler

A sepia-toned vintage portrait of a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a suit with a bow tie. He has a mustache and is looking off to the side with a serious expression. The image has an oval frame.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: 1847 – November 21, 1926

Known For: Sharpshooting partner and husband of Annie Oakley.

Photo Taken: Circa 1882

20. Sitting Bull

A person with long braids and feathers in their hair, wearing a traditional garment, is seated and facing forward. The background is plain, highlighting the subject's solemn expression.
Wikimedia commons

Born/Death: 1831 – December 15, 1890

Known For: Hunkpapa Lakota leader; key figure in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Photo Taken: Circa 1883

21. Geronimo

A black and white photo of a person with long hair kneeling in grass, holding a rifle. They wear a long tunic, leggings, moccasins, and a scarf. The background is a studio setting with plants on either side.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: June 1829 – February 17, 1909

Known For: Apache leader who resisted U.S. and Mexican forces.

Photo Taken: 1887

22. Chief Joseph

A portrait of Chief Joseph of the Nez Percé. He wears traditional attire, including large earrings and multiple beaded necklaces, with fur accents on his shoulders. His expression is serious, and the background is dark.
Wikimedia Commons

Born/Death: March 3, 1840 – September 21, 1904

Known For: Nez Perce leader; famous for his retreat and surrender speech.

Photo Taken: 1911

23. Clara Brown

An elderly woman from the 19th century, wearing a dark dress with a high collar and a bow. Her hair is pulled back, and she appears serious, looking slightly to the side. The photo is in black and white and has an aged appearance.
Library of COngress

Born/Death: 1800 – October 23, 1885

Known For: Freed slave who became a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and pioneer. Known as “Aunt Clara.”

Photo Taken: Late 1800s

24. Judge Roy Bean

An elderly man with a beard and mustache, wearing a straw hat and suit, sits beside a table with a large book. The setting appears to be indoors with a backdrop of stairs and a potted plant. The image is in sepia tone.

Born/Death: 1825 – March 16, 1903

Known For: Self-proclaimed “Law West of the Pecos”; operated a saloon-courtroom hybrid and delivered colorful justice.

Photo Taken: 1885

25. Pearl Hart

A historical black and white photo of a person wearing a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeve shirt, belt, and boots, standing confidently with one foot on a low column, holding a rifle. They are posed against a stone wall background.
wikimedia commons

Born/Death: 1871 – Disappeared after 1928

Known For: One of the few female stagecoach robbers, she famously declared she turned to crime to support her mother.

Photo Taken: 1900

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