This 19th century American frontierswoman was a companion of Wild Bill Hickok. She dressed like a man and frequented bars in the Dakota Territory where she told stories of her adventures. By what name do we know her?

The famous frontierswoman born Martha Jane Canary earned her moniker "Calamity Jane" for her wild reputation and supposedly for warning men that to offend her was to "court calamity." A fixture of the American West, she gained notoriety in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, during the 1870s gold rush. It was there that she formed a friendship with the legendary lawman and gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok. True to the stories, she defied the conventions of her era by wearing buckskins, drinking in saloons, and becoming a master of self-promotion, spinning exaggerated tales of her exploits as an army scout and Native American fighter.

While the historical reality of her life is often difficult to separate from the tall tales she told, her association with Hickok is undeniable. Their time together in Deadwood was brief, as Hickok was murdered during a poker game just weeks after their arrival. Jane's grief was reportedly immense, and she helped build a legend around their relationship that has endured for over a century. She would later capitalize on her fame by appearing in Wild West shows and dictating a short, sensationalized autobiography. Upon her death, she was buried next to Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood's Mount Moriah Cemetery, forever linking their names in history and folklore.