Travel was a constant for nearly every Wild West show. Except for a few longterm stands in big cities such as Chicago, New York, or London, Wild West companies moved at least once or twice a week, often once a day. The ever-changing schedule irritated some performers and delighted others. It required remarkable precision, both in arranging routes and in preparing the show to be moved. Being part of a Wild West show meant travel. It is difficult to imagine the Wild West without movement.

The miles covered could be enormous. In 1896, Cody's show spent four solid weeks at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Nevertheless, the show still racked up 10,787 miles during the remaining months of the season. The year before, Cody had played 131 different towns in 190 days. Even when mileage was not especially great, packing up and moving on every day...