A gold rush or the arrival of a railroad could turn a sleepy village into a boomtown overnight! Authentic photographs feature the townspeople of Boomtowns of the West and the often difficult conditions in which they lived. Detailed illustrations help show:
• how towns were built
• what kinds of businesses sprang up
• why entertainment halls were so popular
• the role women played in boomtowns
• the dangerous job of sheriff and how the North West Mounted Police helped stop lawlessness in the West
• the railroad's devastating impact on Native peoples