Pawnee in Pawnee County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Wild West Show

— Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024

1. Wild West Show Marker

Inscription.
One of the most popular acts in the Wild West Shows were cavalry acts. Wild West Shows purchased retired artillery weapons from militia units and used them to dazzle crowds around the country. Cavalry members fired the rifle to gather a crowd before each show and then pulled the rifle in artillery races during performances. When the show ended in 1913, the rifle would be one of the few items Pawnee Bill kept from his show career.

Erected by Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 36° 19.951′ N, 96° 48.995′ W. Marker is in Pawnee, Oklahoma, in Pawnee County. It can be reached from Pawnee Bill Road just east of Harrison Street (U.S. 64), on the right when traveling east. The marker is located beside the Civil War rifle exhibit on the north/front side of the Pawnee Bill Mansion. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1141 Pawnee Bill Road, Pawnee OK 74058, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Tulsa.

It is also in the American

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South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Return to the Ranch (here, next to this marker); Civil War (here, next to this marker); Gordon William (Pawnee Bill) and May Manning Lillie (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); The Goldfish Pond (within shouting distance of this marker); The Carriage House (within shouting distance of this marker); Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Observation Tower (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pawnee.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum

Also see . . .
1. Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: In 1888, the Lillies launched

2. Marker detail: May Lillie & Friend
May Lillie and an unknown friend sit on the limber of the rifle as it sits in the Wild West Show backlot before a show. The limber was often used as a photo-op for cast members.
their own Wild West show, which they called "Pawnee Bill’s Historic Wild West." May starred in the show as the "Champion Girl Horseback Shot of the West." Their first season was a financial disaster where they re-organized as a smaller operation called "Pawnee Bill’s Historical Wild West Indian Museum and Encampment Show." That show was popular and financially successful. Lillie added Jose Barrera to the cast; he was widely popular performing as "Mexican Joe." In 1907, Lillie hired performers from a variety of backgrounds. The show included Mexican cowboys, Pawnee, Japanese performers, and Arab jugglers. The ensemble debuted as "Pawnee Bill’s Great Far East Show."

(Submitted on February 14, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Pawnee Bill – Another Wild West Showman (Legends of America).

Excerpt: In 1907, Buffalo Bill’s show was starting to suffer financially, and in 1908, Pawnee Bill purchased a one-third interest in the production. Soon, Gordon bought the remaining interest in the show but retained Buffalo Bill as a partner. The two traveled together as the “Two Bill’s Show” until 1913. It was billed

3. Marker detail: Limber and field gun diagram, 1864
as one of the entertainment triumphs of the ages and traveled worldwide, entertaining audiences with realistic and fantasy views of the Old West. The show closed in Denver, Colorado, in 1913 after touring for five seasons.

(Submitted on February 15, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Wild West Show Advertisement image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: Wild West Show Advertisement

An advertisement from the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show for the Grand Artillery Race. The limber and rifle can be seen in the background guided by the cavalry officers. This act was so popular that it was filmed for posterity by the Edison Film Company in 1910.

Marker detail: The cavalry performs during a Wild West Show, c. 1910. image. Click for full size.

circa 1910

5. Marker detail: The cavalry performs during a Wild West Show, c. 1910.

Often the rifle and the limber were so heavy that it took up to six horses to pull the entire apparatus smoothly around the arena. This would have been the same during battle.

Marker detail: Cast of the Two Bills' Show, 1910. image. Click for full size.

circa 1910

6. Marker detail: Cast of the Two Bills' Show, 1910.

The cavalry members featured on the left in traditional spiked hats would oversee the artillery during the show. They shot the rifle to gather a crowd before each show and raced the rifles as an act during performances.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024

7. Wild West Show Marker

Looking west; the marker is mounted beside the Civil War era rifle.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024

8. Wild West Show Marker

The marker, Civil War era rifle, and flagpole are located in front of the Pawnee Bill Mansion.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on February 14, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.