Curious about curios?

After the 1880 arrival of the railroad in New Mexico, Pueblo and Navajo artisans collaborated with non-Indian dealers to invent artifacts that had no purpose but to satisfy the demand for Indian goods. From its inception, the curio trade comprised cottage industries, retail spaces -- and a vast mail-order business. The rich, complex and controversial story of this phenomenon will be told in From the Railroad to Route 66: The Native American Curio Trade in New Mexico, an exhibit scheduled for display from Sunday, May 18, until April 19, 2009 at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe.

The mystery of the Arapaho photos

According to the Evening News of Edinburgh, Scotland, long-lost photographs of Native Americans have been uncovered in a file cabinet in the Charlotte Square headquarters of the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. And thanks to the interest of an Edinburgh archivist who stumbled upon the pictures -- taken in 1921 -- and then pursued the matter rather than let it drop, 7,000 Arapaho people who live on the Wind River Reservation are reclaiming this part of their heritage for themselves

Legacy Art Albuquerque

Lou Diamond Phillips, James Avery and Holly Dunn are among the notables expected to be on hand for the eighth annual Legacy Art Albuquerque charity art auction Saturday, May 10, at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, N.M. This year's featured artist is the acclaimed CJ Wells. As always, all proceeds from the event go to Albuquerque's St. Pius X High School, and the Amando and J.B. Peña “Art Has Heart” educational foundation.

R.I.P.: Eddy Arnold (1918-2008)

Eddy Arnold, the country crooner credited as a pioneer of "The Nashville Sound," died Thursday morning at a care facility near Nashville, just days short of his 90th birthday. The Associated Press obit is here, Great American Country pays tribute here, and Fox News has a guide to Arnold's career highlights here.

They fought the lawyer, and the lawyer won

From the ABA Journal: In the aftermath of a 1869 heist in Daviess County, Mo., Jesse and Frank James stole a getaway horse from a wealthy local farmer. Unfortunately for the brothers, the farmer had a really good lawyer...

Return of The Big Trail

Raoul Walsh's The Big Trail -- the epic 1930 Western that showcases the late, great John Wayne in his first starring role -- has been restored for release as a collector's edition 2-disc DVD.

Coming soon to a computer near you

Wild West Online: Gunfighter -- a spanking new multiplayer computer game developed by Tenderfoot Games, LLC -- has entered its "open beta" testing period, meaning that the game is available to the general public. But take note: Accessibility may be periodically limited while the Tenderfoot team monitors the game's performance under heavy loads, fixes bugs identified by the growing community of players, and adds the final features desired for the game's official launch.

As the on-line intro explains: "In Wild West Online: Gunfighter, you will take on the role of gunslinger in the 19th Century American West. Your calling: To make your way across the country forging a name for yourself at the expense of every two-bit hayseed and cocksure tinhorn in your path. A bright flash, a sharp report... a cloud of acrid smoke. Then it’s on to the next town, the next territory and a new challenger anxious to test their mettle. But lest you get too big for your britches, be forewarned: ahead of you famous gunfighters from history lie in wait, ready to push your skills to the edge — or beyond."

Eager gunslingers can create a free account and try their skills here.