Whirling Horse

Whirling Horse was another member of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Native Americans on the show were known as “show Indians,” though they all came from various Native American tribes. They would reenact historic battles and perform their native dances for audiences. Sounds like a fun show!

The Native American members of the group would also perform shows portraying aspects of their culture, they even had some shows portraying themselves as victims of western expansion, being forcibly removed from their homelands. In many ways, the Wild West Show helped cool tensions and public opinion towards the end of the American-Indian Wars after years of US propaganda against Native Americans. After participating in the Wild West Show, many of these Native Americans would go on to become silent film stars, playing similar roles.