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Rancho Red's Adventure Map of the Old West, with its accompanying guide (on a separate sheet), is a vibrant cartographic portrayal of the iconic American frontier, offering a vivid tapestry of adventure, conflict, and discovery during America's westward expansion.

Created in 1951 by Parker Edwards, the map captures the romanticized essence and tumultuous narrative of the American West from the Pacific coast to the interior regions of Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. It is an artistic amalgamation of historical events and daily life from a century of American expansion, animated with romanticized vignettes that evoke a sense of adventure, danger, exploration, and the quest for fortune.

The illustrations present an engaging panorama of the West, depicting scenes ranging from cowboys skillfully evading stampedes to the precise moments of their cattle roping and branding. Outlaws and lawmen exchange gunfire in the infamous shootout at Tombstone, Arizona, while Black Bart, a notorious stagecoach robber, is shown in the act.

Native American history is intricately woven into the map's narrative. Illustrative vignettes showcase moments of cultural significance, such as a war dance, alongside depictions of historical figures including Chief Ouray of the Utes in the midst of a hunt. The map honors the role of Native Americans in the West's history, featuring Sacagawea's guidance of Lewis and Clark, the Lakota at the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the renowned leaders Chief Cochise and Geronimo.

The allure of the Gold Rush is immortalized with scenes of James Marshall at Sutter's Mill, igniting the California Gold Rush, and the Colorado Gold Rush is also noted. The map does not neglect the West's natural grandeur, with the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley's illustrations capturing the landscape's raw beauty, and Old Faithful symbolizing Yellowstone's natural wonders.

The map is framed with illustrations of artifacts quintessential to the Old West, such as stirrups, spurs, a Colt pistol, a Bowie knife, and miners' tools. These elements not only enhance the map's aesthetic but also serve as a reminder of the tools that shaped the frontier.