John Batterson Stetson made a hat for himself while roughing it in the wilderness in 1860 panning for gold. It was a large felt hat made from hides. Stetson grew fond of the hat for its ability to protect him from the elements. It had a wide brim, a high crown to keep an insulating pocket of air on the head and was waterproof.
The story goes that a cowboy rode up and paid Stetson with a five dollar gold piece for the hat. This was the original “Boss of the Plains” hat that that would become the cowboy hat.
The story goes that a cowboy rode up and paid Stetson with a five dollar gold piece for the hat. This was the original “Boss of the Plains” hat that that would become the cowboy hat.
Notable people who wore Stetsons in the American Wild West included “Buffalo Bill”, Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley.
Calamity Jane in 1895 by H.R. Locke
