Wild Horse History: The Story of the Western Mustang from Pre-History to 1940

This presentation outlines the history of North America's wild horses, tracing their evolution, extinction, and reintroduction via Spanish colonialism. It discusses the impact of horses on Native American cultures, their spread across the continent, and the transformation of native lifeways. The talk concludes by exploring the techniques Mustangers used to capture these symbols of the untamed West. Attendees can view relevant books from Silliman's collection and receive a bibliography.

Presenter Biography: Lee Silliman, a retired educator and former museum archivist now living in Missoula, Montana, has nurtured an avid interest in the art and history of the American West since his youth. As a collector of vintage engravings, Silliman has assembled and annotated many exhibits of these artworks for museums in six Western states. He has taught five courses for the MOLLI program at the University of Montana on Western history and art.

Photo Credit: BB Photography