Structures of Violence

This episode explores how violence unfolded in Dodge City, Kansas, and other small towns around the Santa Fe Trail during the nineteenth century. The rapid influx of guns, alcohol, and outsiders produced a toxic combination that fueled high homicide rates and gave the West its reputation for lawlessness. However, the mystique of gunslingers and saloon shootouts has distorted our perception of how violent these boomtowns really were. 

Written and narrated by: Isaac Yontz 

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone