Lonesome Bill's Historical Interpretation

09/04/2025

1880s cowboy driving cattle through Wyoming Territory to Montana. In the 1880s, cow punchers spent their seasons driving herds north from Texas into the northern plains. Weeks in the saddle meant dust, storms, night guard, and pushing beeves to the railheads and northern ranges.

07/02/2025

Thrilled to share that I’ll be portraying a young Buffalo Bill in an upcoming episode of Expedition Unknown on Discovery! It’s an honor to bring this iconic figure of the American West to life for a project diving into the mystery of Buffalo Bill’s grave.
Check out the story here: https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/06/29/discoverys-expedition-unknown-to-take-on-mystery-of-buffalo-bills-grave/

Through Lonesome Bill’s Historical Interpretation, I offer authentic living history programs, museum consulting, and historical modeling—whether it’s telling the stories of the frontier or stepping into the boots of figures like Buffalo Bill himself.

Have an event, film, or project that could use a bit of the Old West? Let’s talk!

The Discovery Channel’s popular show “Expedition Unknown” is digging into the mystery about what happened to the body of Buffalo Bill Cody. “The Lost…

06/22/2025

What a privilege it’s been to serve as a historian for Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours on the 2025 Crazy Horse and Custer Tour.

We covered hundreds of miles and thousands of years—discussing history from ancient migrations to the battles of the Plains Indian Wars and their lasting legacy. It was an honor to walk these storied landscapes alongside our guests, wrestling with the past in all its complexity.

This is not easy history. It’s not always heroic, and it’s not always just. But that’s what makes it essential to share. These are the stories that shaped the land and the people who live on it still.

If we walk away with anything, may it be this:
To walk the good road and be a just human being. Advocate for the earth, public lands, and historic sites. Lastly, carry these stories forward with respect and honesty. Acknowledge the past, learn from it, and better shape the future.

06/22/2025

On the skirmish line with Major Reno, Valley of the Greasy Grass, 1876.

The dust hangs thick as warriors quickly gather in number, swift and unrelenting. The thunder of hoofbeats rolls across the valley, mingled with war cries and the piercing scream of eagle bone whistles. Smoke stings the eyes, but the line holds—for now. No one speaks of death, but every man feels its nearness.

#1876

05/18/2025

Update from the Fetterman Fight Battlefield:

Thought I was coming out here to interpret history—turns out I’m reenacting a cardiovascular crisis. 😅

The terrain out here is deceptively steep. Between the altitude, the incline, and distance from the fort, I’m starting to understand why the soldiers didn’t make it…

Future programs in the works—after I catch my breath and rethink my life choices. 😵‍💫

05/18/2025

Today I’m walking the not-so-snowy ridges and quiet draws of the Fetterman Fight battlefield, where 81 U.S. soldiers and some 20+ Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors met their fate in 1866 during Red Cloud’s War. The wind carries echoes of a bitter winter and a story that still speaks volumes. I’m here preparing for future programs with Lonesome Bill’s Historical Interpretation, continuing our mission to bring Plains Indian Wars history to life through immersive storytelling and on-site education.

04/15/2025

At Lonesome Bill’s Historical Interpretation, we bring the past to life through immersive storytelling, living history programs, and dynamic public presentations. From the saddle to the lecture hall, we connect modern audiences to the rich stories of the American West.

Book us for your museum, classroom, or community event and experience history like never before!

📆 Now booking for 2025

10/17/2024

We've had some awesome work recently at Lonesome Bill's Historical Interpretation! It's been a busy week working on a special film project about Buffalo Bill. I got to portray a young William F. Cody in his rise to fame. Lots of great history being discussed in this show and good times on set. Not bad views, either! 😁 Contact me for your special film project needs!

09/14/2024

If you want to survive out here, listen to the land. It talks to you, tells you where the water is, where the game is, and where your enemies might be hiding. - Frontier Wisdom

Long before and during the westward expansion, the Great Plains were more than just a wilderness—they were a living, breathing force. Survival meant knowing the land as intimately as one's own hand, and the best scouts never ignored its whispers.

Photo by Markus Erk

09/08/2024

Can you ride like the wind? Depends on the horse and the rider! I have been blessed to learn to work with many horses over my lifetime and enjoy the thrill. Whether I'm modeling, reenacting, doing movie work, or public programs, it's always a good day on a horse! Here I am portraying one of Major Forsyth's scouts just before the battle of Beecher Island in 1868.

The Battle of Beecher Island (September 17-19, 1868) was a fierce conflict during the Indian Wars between a small detachment of U.S. Army scouts, led by Major George Forsyth, and a large force of Cheyenne, Lakota, and Arapaho warriors under Chief Roman Nose. Outnumbered, the scouts took refuge on a sandbar in the Arikaree River. Despite heavy casualties, Forsyth’s men held off the warriors until reinforcements arrived. This battle symbolized the resilience of both sides in the struggle for control of the Great Plains.
Image by Markus Erk.

08/21/2024

“I could never resist the call of the trail.” -Buffalo Bill