The Carbon County Museum‚ in Rawlins‚ Wyoming may never be as famous as the National Museum of Natural History in Washington‚ DC‚ the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC‚ or the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston‚ TX. But it does have one thing those other museums do not: An “Outlaws” exhibit featuring a pair of shoes made from the skin of the infamous outlaw‚ “Big Nose” George Parrott.  According to Old West legend‚ “Big Nose” George (as he was commonly called) was executed on March 22‚ 1881. This was following a shamefully botched lynching attempt.  Rawlins physician John Osborne had shoes made from the notorious outlaw’s inner thigh skin. He then proceeded to wear the following year to his 1892 inauguration as Wyoming’s governor.  If that isn’t disturbing enough‚ from 1913 to 1915‚ when Osborne served as a director for the Rawlins National Bank‚ he displayed the now-infamous shoes in a glass case in the front lobby as his prized possessions. But what exactly did “Big Nose” George do to warrant this kind of irreverence? A portrait of “Big Nose” George Parrott Who Was “Big Nose” George Parrott? George Parrott‚ whose true name is believed to have been George Manuse‚ was an outlaw‚ highwayman‚ cattle and horse rustler. He was of some renown and his most striking physical feature was‚ apparently‚ a prominent nose.  While few details about his life prior to turning to a life of crime are known‚ he is believed to have been born on March 20‚ 1834‚ in Montbéliard‚ France. He likely remained a citizen of that country while living in the US.  Apparently‚ long before drawing attention to himself as an outlaw‚ “Big Nose” George was busy making a name for himself among a number of small-time highwaymen. They were known for robbing freight wagons and stagecoaches in Dakota Territory‚ Wyoming‚ and Montana.  But it wasn’t until the mid-1870s that “Big Nose‚” along with one of his more hardened associates‚ Charlie “Dutch Charley” Burris‚ decided to make themselves famous.  The Big Train Robbery In mid-1878‚ “Big Nose” George‚ “Dutch Charley‚” and four other members of their gang‚ decided to rob the Union Pacific Continental train. It was passing through Como Bluff‚ near Medicine Bow‚ Wyoming. (Legend has it that the train was transporting money for either a bank or the Federal Government.) Thinking themselves clever‚ they chose a lonely stretch of railroad track. They undertook to pull out several of the rail spikes and disconnect the iron fish plates (connecting the rails).  They then attached a long telephone wire to the rail. They intended to keep out of sight and pull it away just as the train came along‚ forcing it off the tracks.  What they hadn’t planned on‚ however‚ was the appearance of a “section foreman” named Brown. Brown was walking the tracks making a routine inspection‚ as was his job. He immediately noticed the missing spikes and dismantled fish plates. Rather than stop and investigate‚ he just walked on as if nothing was out of the ordinary. A mile or so down the tracks‚ Brown turned around and returned to the station. He immediately notified his superiors‚ thus foiling the accident and robbery.  A fictionalized picture of a train robbery. Now that authorities were aware of a plan to rob the train‚ they set out to find out who was behind it.  Not knowing how much of the scheme railroad officials had surmised‚ “Big Nose” George and his gang went on the lam. They rode hard to get away from the scene. They went through Sand Creek‚ Four Mile Springs‚ Seven Mile Springs‚ and Bloody Lake (on the north side of Fort Alexander‚ Montana). Then through Rattlesnake Pass‚ finally choosing Rattlesnake Canyon (near Elk Mountain) as the place they’d hide out.  They were unaware that authorities were hot on their trail and closing in. The Botched Train Robbery Leads to Murder On August 19‚ 1878‚ Wyoming deputy sheriff Robert Widdowfield and Union Pacific detective Tip Vincent were commissioned to form a posse. Their goal was to track down “Big Nose” George Parrott’s gang.  A short time later‚ Widdowfield and Vincent tracked the gang to Rattlesnake Canyon. Unbeknownst to them‚ a lookout for the gang had spotted them coming. Dousing their campfire‚ the gang took cover and waited.  When Widdowfield and Vincent arrived at the campsite‚ Widdowfield realized that the ashes were still hot. But before the posse could react‚ Parrott’s gang opened fire—shooting Widdowfield in the face.  Vincent tried to make a getaway with the posse but was shot before he made it out of the canyon. The gang took both men’s firearms and one of their horses before hiding the bodies and fleeing the area. Once the murder of the two lawmen was reported‚ a $10‚000 reward was offered for the “apprehension of their murderers.” (The railroad later doubled the reward to $20‚000.) Officer Robert Widdowfield’s tombstone. A Daring Daylight Robbery In February of 1879‚ “Big Nose” George‚ “Dutch Charley” and their gang were in Milestown (now Miles City‚ Montana) planning the boldest robbery of their careers.   Milestown was a booming and prosperous town. It had become known that a local merchant named Morris Cahn would be taking money back east to restock his business.  To assure his safety‚ Cahn was traveling with a military paymaster’s wagon train. It consisted of 15 armed soldiers‚ two Army officers‚ a covered wagon‚ and a special “ambulance” transporting Army payroll from Fort Keogh‚ Montana‚ to Bismark‚ Dakota Territory.  At a steep-sided drainage area known locally as a “coulee‚” about 10 miles beyond the Powder River Crossing (near present-day Terry‚ Montana)‚ members of the convoy were forced to take the steep descent at their own pace.  This resulted in the column losing cohesion. The soldiers and wagons became “strung out.” Relying on this eventuality‚ “Big Nose” George‚ “Dutch Charley” and the others positioned themselves at the bottom of the coulee‚ at a turn in the trail where they weren’t visible.  Donning masks‚ the gang took the convoy by surprise. They easily captured the lead complement of soldiers‚ as well as the wagon carrying Cahn and the officers.  They then waited for the rear complement of soldiers guarding the money ambulance to catch up. They handily subdued them and robbed them of somewhere between $3‚600 and $14‚000 (depending on who’s telling the story). Now “Big Nose” George Parrott was the most wanted outlaw in the territory.  A painting by Charles M. Russell depicting the ambush on the wagon train. Image: Sid Richardson Museum Capture and Sentencing Flush with cash‚ “Big Nose” George and “Dutch Charley” split up. They agreed to meet in Miles City to celebrate. Once there‚ however‚ the two got drunk and started bragging to a couple of prostitutes about the two Wyoming lawmen they killed.  When word spread that the two “Wanted” outlaws were in their midst‚ two local deputies‚ Lem Wilson and Fred Schmalsle‚ decided to make a name for themselves by apprehending them.  Captured alive‚ “Big Nose” George was returned to Rawlins‚ Wyoming to face murder and robbery charges. (Accounts of “Dutch Charley’s” fate vary: one reports that he was lynched before he ever got back to Wyoming.) On Sept. 13‚ 1880‚ “Big Nose” George was arraigned in Rawlins. At this time he informed his lawyer that his real name was George Francis Warden‚ and that he was born in Dayton‚ Ohio in April of 1843. (There is no record of his birth in this city.)  Throughout the trial‚ “Big Nose” changed his plea from guilty to not guilty to guilty again—presumably to confuse jurors. (Which‚ apparently‚ didn’t work.)  On April 2‚ 1881‚ the jury found “Big Nose” George Parrott guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. (At this time‚ Wyoming was a “hanging state.”)  Attempted Escape While waiting to be executed‚ “Big Nose” George Parrott managed to file the rivets off of his leg irons using a pocket knife and a piece of sandstone. On March 22‚ 1882‚ after having successfully removed his shackles‚ he hid in the washroom until jailer James Rankin entered.  Using the shackles as a bludgeoning weapon‚ “Big Nose” George struck Rankin on the head‚ fracturing his skull. While attempting to fight back‚ Rankin called out to his wife‚ Rosa‚ for help. She grabbed a pistol and managed to persuade “Big Nose” to return to his cell under threat of being shot. When news of the escape attempt spread through Rawlins‚ a lynch mob of more than 200 citizens surrounded the jail. Donning masks and brandishing pistols‚ men burst into the jail and held Rankin at gunpoint. They dragged “Big Nose” George from his cell. Outside‚ the men surrendered the outlaw to the mob intent on “stringing him up.”  They replaced the shackles on his ankles to make it harder for him to resist. A Lynching Gone Wrong Tying “Big Nose” George’s hands behind his back‚ the lynchers slipped a noose around his neck. They forced him to stand on an empty kerosene barrel‚ then tossed the rope over the crossbar of a telegraph pole. Once in position‚ he was prodded to jump—but the rope broke. Now becoming a formal hanging‚ the mob replaced the noose. But this time‚ they made him climb a 12-foot ladder leaned against the telegraph pole.  When the ladder was pulled away‚ “Big Nose” managed to free his hands and cling to the pole. He started begging for someone to take mercy and shoot him but no one would.  When he could no longer hold on‚ “Big Nose ” George Parrott let go. He was strangled to death by the rope before the crowd of 200 gathered to bear witness to his demise.  Among the witnesses was Rawlins physician John Osborne‚ who’d been asked to attend the hanging to certify that the notorious outlaw was dead. An artist’s interpretation of the hanging of George Parrott done in 1929. Image: Thomas Rooney Undignified Aftermath With no kin to claim the body‚ Dr. Osborne decided that “Big Nose” George Parrott’s body would best serve medical study purposes. (By some accounts‚ Union Pacific Railroad surgeon Dr. Thomas Maghee‚ as well as his medical protégé‚ Lillian Heath‚ were also present for the decision.) The first thing Osborne did was make a death mask of the notorious outlaw. This was thought to be the only such mask ever created for an Old West outlaw. (The mask is currently on display in the Carbon County Museum‚ in Rawlins‚ Wyoming.)  Osborne then skinned the body. He was intent on sending the thigh flesh to a tannery in Denver‚ Colorado with instructions to make him a pair of two-tone shoes and a medicine bag. (Which he apparently did.) Next‚ Osborne (perhaps assisted by Maghee and Heath) sawed “Big Nose” George’s skull into two halves. They wanted to see if his brain was visibly different from a normal brain. (Apparently‚ it wasn’t.)  The head and shoes made from the skin of George Parrott. Photo: Carbon County Museum By some means‚ the top half of the skull came into the possession of Dr. Maghee‚ which he reportedly gave to Lillian Heath (who later became Wyoming’s first female physician).  Lastly‚ when the body could provide no further insight nor entertainment‚ the lower half of “Big Nose” George’s skull was placed in a whiskey barrel filled with saline. The rest of the outlaw’s bones were subsequently buried several years later. They remained untouched for more than half a century.  End of the Old West Saga The story of “Big Nose” George Parrott had all but faded from memory until May 11‚ 1950. It was then that construction workers unearthed a whiskey barrel filled with bones while working on the Rawlins National Bank on Cedar Street‚ in Rawlins‚ Wyoming.  Inside the barrel was the bottom half of a skull‚ a bottle of vegetable compound‚ and the shoes said to have been made from the flesh of “Big Nose” George’s thighs.  Dr. Lillian Heath (Dr. Thomas Maghee’s former protégé)‚ now in her 80s‚ was contacted. She graciously agreed to provide the skull cap for comparison. It proved to be a perfect match.  DNA testing later confirmed that the remains were indeed those of “Big Nose” George Parrott.  For History Buffs Today‚ the two-tone shoes made from the skin of “Big Nose” George Parrott are on permanent display. They are at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins‚ Montana‚ along with Parrott’s death mask and the bottom half of the outlaw’s skull.  The shackles used to re-secure the outlaw during the botched lynching/hanging‚ as well as the top of the skull‚ are said to be on display at the Union Pacific Museum in Council Bluffs‚ Iowa.  The famous medical bag made from “Big Nose” George’s skin has never been found and is suspected to be in a private collection somewhere. References: web.archive.org.‚ “The Hanging of Dutch Charley and Big Nose George‚ the Election of John E. Osborne‚” https://web.archive.org/web/20090405032307/http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/rawlinsa.html  wyohistory.org.‚ “John Osborne‚” https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/john-osborne allthatsinteresting.com.‚ “Meet Big Nose George‚ The Wild West Outlaw Who Was Killed And Turned Into Shoes‚” Meet Big Nose George‚ The Wild West Outlaw Who Was Killed And Turned Into Shoes (allthatsinteresting.com)  findagrave.com.‚ “Charlie ‘Dutch Charley’ Burris‚” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113556618/charlie-burris   truewestmagazine.com.‚ “Big Nose George Parrott‚” https://truewestmagazine.com/article/big-nose-george-parrot/  carboncountymuseum.org.‚ “CURRENT EXHIBITS‚” Carbon County Museum Current Exhibits  legendsofamerica.com.‚ “Big Nose George Becomes a Pair of Shoes‚” Big Nose George Becomes a Pair of Shoes – Legends of America The post Outlaw Who Was Turned into a Pair of Shoes: “Big Nose” George Parrott first appeared on History Defined.

There are many iconic feats of architecture in the world that are recognizable at first glance: the Taj Mahal‚ the Eiffel Tower‚ the Statue of Liberty.  But one of the most influential and copied buildings of the world is much smaller. It was built in Rome by a trusted advisor of Augustus Caesar: The Pantheon. It has influenced countless other buildings with its soaring dome and imposing pillars that capture the democratic nature of Western culture.  However‚ not much is known about its construction or even its original purpose‚ although historians have slowly uncovered some details through archaeological digs.  The Pantheon and the Fontana del Pantheon‚ Rome‚ Italy The Origin of the Pantheon The original Pantheon was built in approximately 25 BCE by Marcus Agrippa. He defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. This was a battle that resulted in both leaders committing suicide. Agrippa returned to Rome a hero with immense wealth. He began a large-scale building project on his personal land‚ funding the construction of three new buildings: the Baths of Agrippa‚ the Basilica of Neptune‚ and the Pantheon.  None of the original structures remain. However‚ some aspects of the baths and the basilica have been incorporated into modern architecture.  The Basilica and Pantheon were likely for private use. They were perhaps used for worshiping specific deities although their true purposes are unclear.  The original Pantheon was destroyed by a fire in both 80 CE and 110 CE. It would be fully reconstructed in 125 CE in the same location under the emperor Hadrian. Reconstructing the Pantheon Construction on the Pantheon was completed in 125 CE under Emperor Hadrian‚ although it was likely started under Emperor Trajan.  Hadrian gets more credit though‚ because he funded extensive construction during his reign. He is most famous for building Hadrian’s Wall‚ the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in England.  Confusingly‚ Hadrian had Agrippa’s original inscription copied onto the reconstructed Pantheon‚ which led to centuries of confusion as to whether the existing building was the original or not. After archaeological digs‚ historians have found evidence that the Pantheon was actually reconstructed. They determined that it was not‚ in fact‚ the original building despite its inscription. The purpose of the renovated Pantheon was as unclear as its purpose was under Agrippa. For nearly 500 years‚ its only recorded use was sometimes as a courthouse or a gathering for the Roman Senate.  The interior of the Roman Pantheon Medieval to Modern Pantheon In 609‚ the Pantheon was granted to Pope Boniface VI by Byzantine Emperor Phocas. It was converted into the St. Mary and the Martyrs church. It was the first pagan temple to become a Christian holy site.  By converting the building to a church‚ the people of Rome were able to save the building from the worst of the looting and disrepair that would come with the fall of Rome.  Many of the other buildings would be stripped of their wealth and fall apart over time. However‚ the church would remain intact out of respect for the religious site.  The outside of the building suffered from changes over the years: statues went missing‚ pillars disappeared‚ and metals were stripped from the walls. However‚ the inside remained fairly intact and has been extensively restored.  Today‚ the Pantheon is still used as a Christian church. Masses are held regularly and sometimes weddings take place under the rotunda‚ but most of the time the building is open to tourists who want to admire the architecture.  Where the Pantheon Got its Name Historians believe that the Pantheon originally had a different name. Under Agrippa‚ it was likely a private temple rather than a public one‚ and the name “Pantheon” is speculated at best.  Cassius Dio‚ a Roman Senator who wrote a contemporary definitive history of Rome‚ speculated that “Pantheon” was merely a nickname for the building‚ rather than any official name.  Pantheon etymologically means worshiping all the gods. However‚ it is unlikely that Agrippa or any other cult was doing so at that point. The name instead derives from the statues of multiple gods surrounding the building or the resemblance of the dome to the heavens.  The Architecture of the Pantheon The Pantheon is most famous for its defining architecture. It has a large portico in the front of the building. This porch area is lined with eight pillars‚ each made of granite that was transported from Egypt.  The granite was brought up the Nile‚ across the Mediterranean‚ pulled up the Tiber River‚ and then dragged across Rome to the construction site. Behind these are two rows of four more columns.  The rotunda is a feat of engineering. It is constructed of different materials to lighten the stress on any given point.  Constructed of travertine‚ then terracotta‚ then light pumice material on the outside‚ the roof was designed in five specific layers to have increasingly lighter material the higher the layer of stone. This allowed for the distinctive dome to maintain the weight of the rock without collapsing. This would not have been possible if the entire structure had been constructed with Roman cement.  The Pantheon’s Legacy The broad dome of the rotunda and the portico with columns have inspired many other famous buildings across the world.  Thomas Jefferson was enamored with the architecture of the building. He took inspiration from its dome and pillars for multiple new building designs. Monticello‚ his home‚ has a similar dome and portico with columns. The US Capitol building and the rotunda at the University of Virginia also have similar designs. John Russell Pope‚ who designed the memorial in Washington DC dedicated to Jefferson‚ also took inspiration from the Pantheon.  These architectural features have come to represent Roman influence on the Western world. And also the values of justice‚ democracy‚ and free speech since their features are present in so many American government buildings. References Cartwright‚ Mark. “Pantheon.” World History Encyclopedia‚ April 9‚ 2018. https://www.worldhistory.org/Pantheon/#google_vignette.  History.com Editors. “Pantheon.” History Channel‚ June 26‚ 2023. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/pantheon.  Caniglia‚ Gabriel. “The Pantheon’s Architectural Legacy.” Northwestern.edu. https://canvas.northwestern.edu/eportfolios/895/The_Classical_Source/The_Pantheons_Architectural_Legacy. The post The Pantheon: A Famous Dome and Iconic Pillars first appeared on History Defined.

Cats were famously well-regarded in ancient Egypt‚ but what about dogs? Dogs in ancient Egypt held much the same status as dogs today. Some were working dogs‚ and many were beloved pets.  Some strays haunted graveyards and cowered on the fringes of society. Some were status symbols‚ decked out in precious metals and embalmed to join their owners in the afterlife.  Many others were simply the loyal companions that we know and love today.  Dog engraving found in the tomb of Mereruka. The Nile Magazine Over Thirty Thousand Years of Companionship Domesticated dogs existed in Egypt and throughout the world‚ even in prehistoric times. Genetically‚ dogs diverged from wolves over thirty thousand years ago. This reaches back to before the last ice age and even predates agriculture. They were the first animals to be domesticated‚ back when all humans lived in small groups of hunter-gatherers. Historians believe that dog collars and leashes were first developed by the Sumerians. They occupied Mesopotamia between the sixth and fifth millennium BC.  There is evidence of leashed dogs in prehistoric Egypt as well. An early Egyptian tomb painting created nearly six thousand years ago depicts a man walking his dog on a leash.  By the Early Dynastic Period‚ Egyptians had also domesticated goats‚ cattle‚ sheep‚ pigs‚ donkeys‚ and various birds. Tomb paintings from that time depict dogs that looked similar to modern-day Basenjis‚ Greyhounds‚ and Salukis.  They were often painted wearing collars tied with a large bow. Later tomb paintings created for pharaohs show them riding in their chariots with their hunting dogs running alongside.  Ancient Egyptian Dog Breeds Scholars have identified several distinct breeds or types of dogs in ancient Egypt.  Basenjis are commonly depicted in ancient Egyptian art. This ancient breed originated in the Congo and arrived in Egypt by way of Nubia. Basenjis are intelligent‚ energetic‚ loyal dogs.  Their uniquely-shaped throats produce howls‚ but not the barking sound that most dogs make. The ancient Egyptian word for Basenji translates to “dog of the villagers” because they were such common multi-purpose family dogs.  A modern-day Basenji Sighthounds‚ similar to modern-day Greyhounds‚ and Salukis were also common. They were kept as pets and used for hunting.  They’re also featured in various battle scenes made to celebrate the triumphs of pharaohs. Small sighthounds similar to whippets were one variation. Molossian dogs came to Egypt from ancient Greece. These large dogs were similar to modern Mastiffs. They were often used as guard dogs and police dogs in Egypt.  Hounds similar to Ibizan and Pharaoh Hounds were perhaps the most common.  Modern Pharaoh hounds were bred to chase rabbits at night. Ibizan Hounds are historically used for rabbit hunting as well.  A modern-day Saluki In addition to hunting with this type of hound‚ ancient Egyptians sacrificed them to the god Anubis. The demand was so great that puppies were bred for the sole purpose of being sacrificed to the dog god.  There were also strays and mutts‚ often referred to as pariah dogs. Scholars have speculated that the prevalence of these animals led to the ancient practice of creating tombs to protect the remains of the dead. Dogs in Ancient Egypt Many Egyptian dog collars have been found with the dogs’ names inscribed on the leather. Translations include Reliable‚ Brave One‚ Good Herdsman‚ North-Wind‚ and Lion of the Battlefield.  These collars were sometimes decorated with bronze and copper studs. Some members of the upper class even inscribed collars of gold and silver for their beloved pets.  The Egyptians used dogs to help herd cattle‚ which were a primary source of wealth and an important status symbol at that time. There were also hunting dogs‚ guard dogs‚ military dogs‚ and simple household pets led by leashes made of papyrus rope or leather.  Some pharaohs entombed their dogs with all the care that upper-class humans received.  One funeral stele reads: “The dog which was the guard of His Majesty. Abuwtiyuw was his name. His Majesty ordered that he be buried ceremonially‚ that he be given a coffin from the royal treasury‚ fine linen in great quantity‚ and incense. His Majesty also gave perfumed ointment and ordered that a tomb be built for him by the gangs of masons. His Majesty did this for him in order that he might be honored before the great god‚ Anubis.” Aside from dogs killed for ceremonial religious purposes‚ it was illegal to kill dogs in ancient Egypt. This was such a serious crime that killing a dog with a collar – that is‚ a dog that clearly had an owner – was a capital offense.  When a beloved dog died‚ their family grieved publically in the same way that they would for a human family member‚ including shaving off their eyebrows.  Anubis Anubis is one of Egypt’s oldest and most enduring gods. He is depicted as a black dog or as a man with the head of a black dog. Like the dark soil of the Nile‚ the color black represented regeneration and rebirth.  Anubis presided over mummification‚ guarded tombs‚ and guided souls to the afterlife. In Egyptian myths‚ he protected both the living and the dead from evil. The modern term Anubis comes from the Greek form of the Egyptian word Anpu‚ which meant ‘decay’. Ancient Egyptians called him by many epithets‚ including “First of the Westerners”‚ “He Who is Upon his Sacred Mountain”‚ “The Dog Who Swallows Millions”‚ “Master of Secrets” and “Lord of the Sacred Land”. The earliest images of Anubis have been found in royal tombs from the First Dynasty of Egypt‚ which spanned from 3150 to 2890 BCE. Scholars believe that this dog-headed god is related to the wild dogs that these tombs protected against.  Anubis‚ the Jackal-headed God of the Dead He is often shown in depictions of the Weighing of the Heart‚ the test that recently departed souls must pass in order to move on to paradise. His daughter Qebhet was present to comfort them and offer them cool water to drink. Ancient Egyptians believed that their beloved companions awaited them in the Field of Reeds that awaited them after their death. There‚ in a land beyond pain‚ they would be together forever. The post The Role and Significance of Dogs in Ancient Egypt first appeared on History Defined.

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