Medora North Dakota

Medora, North Dakota Arrival

on August 13, 2012.

Harrison V. Johnston statue stands

over nine feet in Medora. Johnston

was one of the last Bad Lands Bronco Busters.

Johnston was a ranch owner at age 16

and a rodeo rider as well. In 1967 he was

honored as an oustanding Westerner by the

National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma.

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame at Medora ND.

Famed silent film actor, Tom Mix

married his 3rd wife in Medora ND

in 1909. Tom Mix was a capable shooter

and rider prior to films. Oh, he was

born just outside State College PA,

home of Nittany Lions!

What is that Hat he's wearing?

Medora ND was founded in

April 1883. A French nobleman, Marquis de Mores

 named the town for his bride Medora von Hoffman, daughter

of a wealthy New York banker.

A Medora local art view

Fortunes were won and lost

in Medora at such tables. These

are real folks from Medora's past.

Can you pick out the fella with the Gus Hat?

I love this picture. It's

L.B. "Kirk" Kuykendall of

Killdeer, ND northeast of

Medora. One of many great

ND cowboys

The Gus Hat, a Popular Cowboy Hat in the Dakotas.

The "Gus" crease is a popular crease for a cowboy hat and has been around since the 1800's.

It wasn't called the Gus hat in the 1800's. The name Gus came from the Lonesome Dover

series with  Robert Duvall as Gus Mcrae in the series.

Old west cowboys liked the "Gus" crease on their cowboy hat because they could grab the narrow part of the crown of their cowboy hat and bow to the ladies.

Steve McQueen wore the "Gus" crease on his cowboy hat in the movie "Tom Horn".

The popularity of the "Gus" crease really grew when Robert Duvall wore it on his cowboy hat in the movie "Lonesome Dove".

The crown of the cowboy hat has a dramatic slope from back to front and is still worn by many cowboys today.

I love the Gus Hat!