There are some remarkable places and times in this world that intrigue, inspire, and cause intense fascination. One such place in the US is the Old Southwest. It lives large in our culture, art, history, and traditions.
Luckily for us readers, an extraordinary new book is here to take us there: Legends & Lore of the Old Southwest.
One of our very favorite artists and authors, Jessica Laughlin, beautifully shares this fascinating local history with words, original illustrations, and historical photos. You'll remember our interviews with her about her marvelous The 50 States Bucket List: The Ultimate Journal for a Journey Across America, as well as our artist spotlight. Get ready for her latest adventure!
From its earliest days to the dawn of the twentieth century, the Southwest was known as a place for dreamers, heroes, and lonesome drifters. People were drawn to places like Tombstone, where notorious events left a lingering legacy, and Taos Pueblo, with centuries of history contained within its adobe walls. Across the territories, the blending of cultures and conflicts that arose turned common people into legends. Names like Geronimo, Billy the Kid, Doña Tules, and Olive Oatman survive in story, along with other, wilder tales, like those of the Lost Dutchman mine and the Mogollon Monster.
Published by Arcadia Publishing & The History Press, Legends & Lore of the Old Southwest is an absolute treasure trove of goodness.
With an experienced storyteller's knack of bringing history to life, Laughlin takes readers through stories of people and places in New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern Nevada. Not only does she illuminate legendary people both known and perhaps new to us, but she fully explores their history in context.
It's the best kind of historical learning, when you feel as if you know more about them, through interesting stories, detailed art, and actual photos.
This is one book that I could not put down. It led me down many internet rabbit holes, as I wanted to learn more, see current photos, and imagine traveling to and through such deep heritage and rich landscapes.
Highly, highly recommended!
The canyon cliffrose
Jessica Laughlin combines art, history and travel in her creative work. She is the author and illustrator of The 50 States Bucket List: The Ultimate Journal for a Journey Across America and Legends & Lore of the Old Southwest. She graduated from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and received a bachelor’s degree from California State University Monterey Bay. Jessica lives in Henderson, Nevada, with her husband, Chad, and their dog, Gracie. She enjoys traveling, drawing, Western history, and photography.
We interviewed Laughlin about her book, this cultural and geographic history, illustrations, place, and more. Here's what she had to say...
What inspired you to write and illustrate this book?
I’ve always been fascinated by the old West. Being from Las Vegas, surrounded by miles of desert, gave me a desire to explore the trails of the past. Southern Nevada is home to numerous ghost towns and remnants from the 1800s. I find it intriguing that thriving towns could eventually be abandoned suddenly and left to decay in the dust. When the gold and silver veins within the hills dried up, everyone simply moved on. I wanted to know more about how and why it all occurred. This led me down a very interesting path, as I researched the dramatic booms and busts of my own home state.
My interest in New Mexico and Arizona’s history developed later, after I traveled to different areas of these states and immersed myself in their cultures. I found them to be full of mystery, unique traditions and allure. As they say, New Mexico is the “Land of Enchantment,” and it certainly had an impact on me.
The long walk of the Navajo
The history in your book absolutely comes alive through your research, writing, and art. What was your research process like? What surprised you?
My book focuses on those who lived in the harsh conditions of a land with few laws or boundaries. While there were great opportunities for those who arrived in the region, they came at a steep price. Most of the stories revolve around the transitional period before New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada became states. From the perspective of the United States, the land stretching west to the Pacific needed to be incorporated into the country. The idea of Manifest Destiny created a sense of urgency, as well as the notion that the United States was destined to push forward. Elaborate propaganda was circulated, portraying a rather rosy picture of life west of the Missouri River. Freedom, dreams, fortune, and promise lured thousands of people to embark on the trails. However, the land was ancient, having belonged to the indigenous peoples long before the settlers arrived to stake their claims. It was, for the most part, far from the dream many settlers had imagined.
Taos Pueblo
Prior to the United States’ involvement, the Spanish had also been exploring the territory since the early 1500s. Similarly, they sought to expand their territory of Mexico northward into present-day New Mexico and Arizona. The Tiwa people of Taos Pueblo, for instance, resisted, but were ultimately defeated by the Spanish. All of these factors created a region that was extremely volatile and ever evolving.
During the writing process, my aim was to breathe life into the extraordinary stories and individuals who shaped the old Southwest. Some chapters delve into intricate tensions that arose between various groups. While everyone fought for land and their own, they eventually came to live harmoniously. This is why these states in particular now boast a dynamic and diverse culture, influenced significantly by Hispanic and Native American customs. The art, food, music, architecture, languages of various people have all interwoven throughout the passing of time. In my opinion, no other place embraces its multicultural heritage more distinctly than the Southwest.
Riding into the Jornada del Muerto
And that art! Can you please share more about your process?
The illustrations flowed from my pen. Drawing the scenes for each chapter was as enjoyable as writing. It was as if I was transported to a different time period, living between the past and present for several months. In some ways, I felt a calling to narrate these stories visually and through words. The illustrations were drawn with fine liner pens and an old-fashioned dip pen.
What might readers be surprised to learn, about the Old Southwest (and its VERY interesting people!)?
One of my favorite chapters I wrote was about the Grand Canyon. As an environmental advocate, I wanted to share the beauty of this landscape. Now, more than ever, with the dwindling Colorado River situation, this divine canyon is at risk. Without the Colorado River flowing through its depths, the life within the canyon would vanish. Its vastness and fragility are at the heart of the current situation we face in the Southwest. These lands were not meant for overpopulation, and it’s unsustainable without drastic solutions.
Before Phoenix rose into the city it is today, the Hohokam Canal People were a large and flourishing community. In fact, they were engineering marvels, building these interweaving canals that Phoenix still relies upon today. It fascinates me that they eventually left it all behind without a trace as to where they migrated. While their population grew rapidly for years in the desert, it possibly overgrew to the point where their water supply couldn’t keep up with the demand. There’s no clear answer as to why they left, but this is a common theme throughout the desert, and one that we may learn from today.
I believe readers may also be surprised to learn about the complexities of the region and the lives of its most notorious figures. There are some mysteries that remain unsolved today, such as the theory of Billy the Kid surviving in hiding under an alias until he was ninety, the sliding jail in Jerome, the Taos Hum, the search for the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, the story behind Death Valley Scotty’s Castle, the Blue Hole of Santa Rosa, or the Navajo Skinwalkers – to name a few!
El Sanctuario de Chimayo
What's up next for you?
I’m consistently working on my art and writing. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I feel like I’m always drawn to new topics and places to explore. My art seems to guide me, and I just let my imagination run wild. Sometimes, it all surprises me because I can’t predict where it will go, or what inspiration will strike. You never know where the journey will lead you, but eventually, it reveals itself.
How can people find your work?
You can find my work on my website at www.jessicalaughlindesigns.com and on my Instagram @jessicalaughlinart. I usually post photographs of my travels and new artwork on Instagram. My prints, including all state maps and some illustrations from this book, are available on my Etsy page at: JessicaLaughlinShop. Legends & Lore of the Old Southwest is available at Arcadia Publishing and in stores throughout the country, including Barnes & Noble. It’s also available on Amazon and many online retailers.
The train robbery
All photos courtesy and copyright Jessica Laughlin, published with permission