What was the “Wild West” really like?

by BlastingMolasses

I’m watching “The West” by Ken Burns right now and we am really interested to know how much is folklore and truth. Were duels really a common thing in the Wild West? How common were brothels? What is folklore and what is truth?

mikedash

There is invariably more to be said, especially in such an historically and historiographically rich a field as this, but you might like to review some earlier responses to your questions while to wait for fresh answers:

The 'Wyatt Earp effect' states that something statistically improbable (like someone repeatedly surviving a number of gunfights) becomes statistically highly likely to occur, given a large enough sample population; were gunfights really that common in the old West, or is that a creation of fiction?, led by the excellent u/Georgy_K_Zhukov

Were brothels and prostitution as ubiquitous in the American West as is portrayed in film and fiction?, led by the estimable u/itsallfolklore

How did prostitutes in the old American West circa 1865 - 1900 treat LGBT clients?, led by the remarkable u/sunagainstgold