"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown: An absolute landmark work that fundamentally changed the narrative of westward expansion by documenting the systematic destruction of Native American cultures.

"Blood and Thunder" by Hampton Sides: A thrilling, impeccably researched narrative history of the conquest of the American Southwest, focused around the complex figure of Kit Carson and the Navajo nation.

"The Log of a Cowboy" by Andy Adams: Published in 1903, this is widely considered one of the most accurate, unromanticized firsthand accounts of life on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana.

"Empire of the Summer Moon" by S.C. Gwynne: A Pulitzer Prize-finalist detailing the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history, and the story of Quanah Parker.

"The Age of Gold" by H.W. Brands: A comprehensive, sweeping history of the California Gold Rush and how it instantly transformed the American dream and the global economy.

"Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry: The Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that both demythologizes and honors the cowboy era through an epic cattle drive from Texas to Montana.

"Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy: A brutal, haunting, and violently poetic novel based on historical events surrounding the Glanton gang of scalp hunters on the US-Mexico border.

"True Grit" by Charles Portis: A brilliant, sharply written novel featuring the unforgettable voice of Mattie Ross seeking vengeance with the help of the aging, one-eyed Marshal Rooster Cogburn.

"The Virginian" by Owen Wister: Published in 1902, this is widely considered the first true Western novel, establishing many of the tropes (like the fast-draw showdown) that defined the genre.

"The West" (Ken Burns documentary): An exhaustive, incredibly detailed 12-and-a-half-hour PBS series exploring the complex, tragic, and triumphant story of westward expansion.

"Unforgiven" (1992 film): Clint Eastwood's masterpiece that actively deconstructs and critiques the very Western myths he helped create earlier in his career.

"Tombstone" (1993 film): While taking some creative liberties, it remains highly praised for its extremely accurate costuming, dialogue, and portrayal of the Earp-Cowboy feud.

Buffalo Bill Center of the West (Cody, WY): An massive complex of five world-class museums covering firearms, Plains Indians, natural history, western art, and Buffalo Bill himself.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (Oklahoma City, OK): America's premier institution featuring an incredible collection of Western art, artifacts, and a recreated frontier town.

Autry Museum of the American West (Los Angeles, CA): Dedicated to exploring and sharing the comprehensive stories, experiences, and diverse perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West.

Library of Congress Online Exhibits: An invaluable, free digital resource providing access to thousands of original photographs, maps, letters, and documents from the frontier era.