Toggle navigation
Shows
Featured Shows
The Cowboy Way
Ultimate Cowboy Showdown
Favorite Shows
Centennial
Gunsmoke
The Young Riders
Favorites
Bonanza
Bonanza, The Lost Episodes
Centennial
Daniel Boone
High Chaparral
Mountain Men
The Big Valley
The Virginian
The Waltons
Walker, Texas Ranger
Specials & Events:
Weekday Westerns
|
Learn More
Movies
Featured Movies
The Gambler
California
Favorite Movies
Ride a Crooked Trail
The Rare Breed
Lonesome Dove Church
Gunsmoke
Events & Specials:
Saddle Up Weekends
|
Learn More
Newsletter
Blog
Featured Blog
If Mountain Men Were City Folk
Read Now!
Games
Featured Game
Which Gunsmoke Character Are You?
Play Now!
Sweepstakes
Shows
Movies
Schedule
Newsletter
Blog
Find INSP
Sweepstakes
FIND INSP
Continue
FOLLOW INSP
×
FOLLOW INSP
WATCH NOW
Back To
Blog
Quizzes & Trivia
Learn More
Wild West Boss Ladies: Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane: Always in the Spotlight
At a time of wild exaggeration, no one spread outlandish tales about Calamity Jane better than Calamity herself. Born Martha Jane Canary in 1856 in Missouri, Jane was the oldest of six children—and orphaned by the time she was in her mid-teens. At 19, Calamity headed to the lawless town of Deadwood, South Dakota. Because of her manly attire and bodacious personality, she soon became the protagonist in a series of dime novels. She dressed like a man, occasionally did men’s work, and she could ride, shoot, out-drink, and out-cuss the most foul-mouthed, tobacco-chewing ne’er-do-wells in any camp she wandered through. She made money as a laundress, a cook, a dance hall girl, and bullwhacker, among other jobs not considered “ladylike.” She was boisterous, and enthralling, drawing crowds wherever she went. She pined for Wild Bill Hickok. Though some accounts state they married, others claim he wanted little to do with her, or they were merely casual friends. As self-aggrandizing as she was, Jane had a big heart, helping the sick and needy. But years of alcoholism caught up with her. She died at age 47 near Deadwood. At her request, she was buried next to Bill Hickok.
Like What You See? Sign Up for Our Newsletter Below!
First Name Required:
Enter More than two characters.
Last Name Required:
Enter More than two characters.
Invalid Email:
Enter another email.
Invalid Zip Code:
Enter another zip code.
First Name:
Last Name:
Email:
Zip:
Provider:
Please Enter Your Zipcode
How did you hear about us?
Select Option
INSP.com
Social Media
Television
Google/Search Engine
Family/ Friend/ Hero
INSP Info Card
Other Website
Xfinity Store Visit
WICT
AT&T Programmer Fair
×
Search