American Legends & Folklore

Annie Oakley
Oakley, Annie (1860–1926) In American history and folklore, stage name of Phoebe Anna Oakley Mozee, a markswoman and member of ...
Betsy Ross
Painting depicting the story of Betsy Ross presenting the first American flag to General George Washington, by Edward Percy Moran ...
Buffalo Bill
Buffalo Bill (1846–1917) In American history and folklore, the popular name of William Frederick Cody, scout and showman. Born in ...
Butch Cassidy
Butch Cassidy (1866–1911?) In U.S. history and legend, assumed name of Robert Leroy Parker, leader of the Wild Bunch, an ...
Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane (1848–1903) In U.S. history and folklore, popular name for Martha Jane Canary, noted for her marksmanship, who dressed ...
Captain Kidd
Captain Kidd (1645–1701) In British and American history and folklore, popular name of William Kidd, privateer. Born in Scotland, Kidd ...
Devil’s horse
The Devil’s horse is in Ozark folklore, the colloquial name for the praying mantis. It is considered bad luck to ...
Howe’s Masquerade
Howe’s Masquerade In U.S. history and folklore of the Revolution, a masked ball held by the British general Sir William ...
Joe Baldwin
Joe Baldwin - In American folklore, a train conductor who was decapitated when his train was rammed by another train ...
Joe Magarac
Joe Magarac (jackass) In American literary folklore, a superhuman steelworker and folk hero of the Pittsburgh area steel mills, invented ...
John Henry
John Henry In American folklore, a black hero, born in Black River Country “where the sun don’t never shine.” When ...
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed (1774–1847) : In American history and folklore, popular name of John Chapman, Massachusetts-born orchardist, who planted fruit trees ...
Masterson, Bat
Bat Masterson (1855–1921) In American history and folklore, William Barclay Masterson was a sheriff noted for his fine suits, pearl-gray ...
Mike Fink
Mike Fink (1770–1823) In American folklore, a legendary keelboat man, the strongest ever. Mike Fink spent most of his time ...
Molly Pitcher
Molly Pitcher (1754–1832) In American history and folklore of the Revolution, the popular name of Mary L. Hays McCauley, who ...
Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow
Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow In American history and folklore, the cow of Mrs. Patrick (Kate) O’Leary; it supposedly started the Great ...
Old John
Old John In American folklore, a tramp printer who could make type fall into place instantaneously with one sweep of ...
Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan In American folklore, giant lumberjack of the Great Lakes and the Pacific Northwest. Various places claim Paul Bunyan ...
Pecos Bill
Pecos Bill In American folklore, a tough Western hero who was the subject of many adventures. Edward O’Reilly created the ...
Mary Ellen Pleasant
The origins of Mary Ellen Pleasant (circa 1814– 4 January 1904) are mysterious and contradictory. She may have been born ...
Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle: In American literary folklore, creation of Washington Irving in The Sketch Book. Rip, who lives with a ...
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter In American folklore of World War II, name given to a fictional woman who symbolized women’s contributions ...
Ruidoso
Ruidoso In American western folklore, a big maverick steer that brought destruction on all who came in contact with it ...
Sam Hart of Woburn
Sam Hart of Woburn : In American folklore of New England, a horseman who once entered into a race with ...
Stacker Lee
Stacker Lee (also Stagolee, Stackerlee, Stackalee) is in American folklore, a black man who entered into a Devil ’s pact ...
Tom Quick
Tom Quick is in American folklore, the “Indian Slayer” or “The Avenger of the Delaware.” According to one legend, Tom ...
Tommyknockers
Tommyknockers are Cornish miners immigrated to the United States in the nineteenth century, initially working en masse in Pennsylvania’s coal ...
Tony Beaver
Tony Beaver is in American folklore, a comic hero of the West Virginia lumberjacks whose antics often take place in ...
Two-Toe Tom
Two-Toe Tom In American folklore, a 14foot alligator, in Alabama marsh country near Montgomery, who ate people and animals. When ...
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam In American folklore, personification of the United States, portrayed as a tall, lean Yankee with long white hair, ...

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