A father and his daughter go missing in Labette County, Kansas in late 1872. A neighbor searches for them, and he never comes home. His wife sounds the alarm. Search parties descend on the Bender farm. The Benders are long gone, but the victims of their murderous deeds remain. Local authorities hunt for the Bender clan, but justice proves elusive.

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In 1870, a “family” called the Benders moves to Labette County in southern Kansas. There are four people in the group, but no one in the area fully understands the relationship between them. They build a small cabin near a well-used trail and offer the space as an inn for travelers. Before long, strange activities and criminal acts are reported at the Bender cabin. And then, travelers go missing.

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WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of cannibalism.

The Donner Party experiences the worst case scenario. They’re starving and living in crude shelters. A small group begins the trek over the mountains to find help, but it loses members along the way. The people who remain trapped near Truckee Lake become increasingly desperate. But early in the new year of 1847, rescue parties start to arrive at the camps near the lake. The rescuers can hardly believe the conditions of the camps and the people. And the survivors tell the story of the most infamous wagon train in American history.

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The Donner Party faces another punishing trip across a desert before it finally reaches the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the border between Nevada and California. The party has lost a ton of time, but the travelers still believe they can make it over the mountains and into central California before winter. They make it as far as Truckee Lake – now Donner Lake – before they become trapped by blizzards.

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The Donner-Reed caravan passes the halfway point of its journey to California, and now the real problems begin. After meeting legendary mountain man, Jim Bridger, the caravan chooses to take an unproven road across central Utah. They believe it is a shortcut which will save them hundreds of miles. It turns out to be a disaster, and the trip across the Great Salt Lake Desert leads to a heartbreaking decision.

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In 1846 in Springfield, Illinois, the Donner family teams up with the Reed family to form the core of a caravan that will travel to the rich farmland of California. The problem is, they’re already late. They soon discover that they’re among the very last travelers to begin the journey to the West, and the hardships begin almost immediately.

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A quick update episode about changes to the release schedule for Legends of the Old West in 2026. Next year will begin with an encore presentation of the story of the Donner Party, followed by a 3-episode miniseries about the Alaska gold rush and then the regular full-length series.

In addition to a slightly reduced schedule, Legends of the Old West and Infamous America will now have staggered release schedules. All episodes will continue to release on Wednesdays, but new episodes of each podcast will not be perfectly in sync with each other. 

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In April of 1889, Major Joseph Wham receives orders to deliver U.S. Army payroll to five forts in eastern Arizona. He brings Buffalo Soldiers of the 24th Infantry and the 10th Cavalry as an army escort. At a place called Bloody Run outside of Fort Grant, a gang of bandits ambushes the payroll convoy, and the soldiers end up in a fight for their lives.

For the full story of the Wham paymaster robbery, please see the book “Ambush at Bloody Run” by Larry D. Ball!

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After Victorio’s War, an old Apache leader called Nana rises to lead a small band of fighters into New Mexico for a month of devastating raids. At Carrizo Canyon, they lead a detachment from K Troop of the 9th Cavalry into an ambush. During the firefight, the actions of Sergeant Thomas Shaw and Sergeant George Jordan earn them the Medal of Honor.

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In 1879, Apache leader Victorio leads a campaign of deadly raids across New Mexico Territory. For nearly a year, the 9th Cavalry skirmishes with Victorio’s warriors, but can’t end the raids. In 1880, Victorio crosses into Texas and faces new tactics from the 10th Cavalry. The Buffalo Soldiers win decisive victories and force Victorio down into Mexico where he soon meets his end.

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