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Howdy folks, welcome to Dr. History's audio stories of the Old West. Each week a new podcast. Stories of Cowboys, Indians, Mountain men, pioneers, the Oregon Trail, miners, cattle drives, stagecoach and bank robbers, the cavalry, outlaws and lawmen, some famous and some you have never heard of.

From the Custer Battlefield to the Klondike to Indian battles to buried treasure and lost mines to the early explorers. I love telling true stories that shaped the old west, along with my partner radio talk show host and rodeo announcer, Zeb Bell.

Listen to the broadcast live, every Tuesday at 10:06 am (Mountain Time) at ZebBell.com. Southern Idaho listeners can also tune in to AM Radio 1230. Previously recorded episodes are available on our Podcasts Page.

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Recently Added Podcasts

The Whitmans and the Spauldings - Part Two November 12, 2024 The future missionaries made it to a rendezvous on the Green River. The Native Americans were amazed at seeing their first white women. They now faced the most difficult part of the journey. Across southern Idaho, to Fort Boise, then Blue Mountains and on to Fort Walla Walla. Now they were ready to establish their missions. Next week, part three, the tragedy.
The Whitmans and the Spauldings - Part One November 5, 2024 Narcissa wanted to be a missionary, as did Marcus, so they got married more as a business agreement. The same with Henry and Eliza Spaulding. They joined forces to travel to the Oregon territory to preach to the Nez Perce and Flathead Indians. The first white women to make the trek on what would be the Oregon Trail.
The Lumber Rush - Part Three October 29, 2024 Idaho lumberjacks sent logs down the rivers, but one log could cause huge jams. Dynamite worked, but was dangerous. Ephraim Shay invented a small railroad engine that effectively pulled log laden rail cars. John Dolbeer invented the steam driven "donkey engine" for extracting logs. Simon Benson invented the first successful method for floating log rafts to San Diego.
The Lumber Rush - Part Two October 22, 2024 Skidroads, log chutes and flumes were used to transport lumber to the mills and to market. Skidroads used oxen to pull tons of huge logs. Chutes were long troughs made of wood. John Cook's chute sent logs at 90 miles an hour, sizzling when they hit the water. Flumes with water were as long as 54 miles. Brave souls occasionally rode in special boats down the flume, not all of them made it.
The Lumber Rush October 15, 2024 Lumber was in huge demand in California and came from Maine until they realized there were thousands of acres on the west coast. Lumbermen used different methods to fell trees, all involved heavy dangerous work. By 1859 millions of board feet were produced on the west coast.

The Whitmans and the Spauldings - Part Two

November 12, 2024

The future missionaries made it to a rendezvous on the Green River. The Native Americans were amazed at seeing their first white women. They now faced the most difficult part of the journey. Across southern Idaho, to Fort Boise, then Blue Mountains and on to Fort Walla Walla. Now they were ready to establish their missions. Next week, part three, the tragedy.

The Whitmans and the Spauldings - Part One

November 5, 2024

Narcissa wanted to be a missionary, as did Marcus, so they got married more as a business agreement. The same with Henry and Eliza Spaulding. They joined forces to travel to the Oregon territory to preach to the Nez Perce and Flathead Indians. The first white women to make the trek on what would be the Oregon Trail.

The Lumber Rush - Part Three

October 29, 2024

Idaho lumberjacks sent logs down the rivers, but one log could cause huge jams. Dynamite worked, but was dangerous. Ephraim Shay invented a small railroad engine that effectively pulled log laden rail cars. John Dolbeer invented the steam driven "donkey engine" for extracting logs. Simon Benson invented the first successful method for floating log rafts to San Diego.

The Lumber Rush - Part Two

October 22, 2024

Skidroads, log chutes and flumes were used to transport lumber to the mills and to market. Skidroads used oxen to pull tons of huge logs. Chutes were long troughs made of wood. John Cook's chute sent logs at 90 miles an hour, sizzling when they hit the water. Flumes with water were as long as 54 miles. Brave souls occasionally rode in special boats down the flume, not all of them made it.

The Lumber Rush

October 15, 2024

Lumber was in huge demand in California and came from Maine until they realized there were thousands of acres on the west coast. Lumbermen used different methods to fell trees, all involved heavy dangerous work. By 1859 millions of board feet were produced on the west coast.