"Those with an interest in the American frontier, colorful frontier figures, or studies of historical myth and memory will find much to appreciate."—Annals of Iowa
"A worthwhile read for all who are interested in the town’s early history and the people who made its reputation wild and wicked."—Journal of the West
"A readable and well-researched study of the mythology concerning Dodge City."—Great Plains Quarterly
"Written in an engaging style and illustrated with photographs and engravings that bring the history to life, Dodge City and the Birth of the Wild West addresses both a scholarly and a general interest audience."—Journal of American History
"A satisfying page-turner. The authors use numerous newspapers accounts to carry their storyline forward, writing in a style that makes sense of the era’s news and headlines to today’s reader."—Nebraska History
"Lovers of western history who yearn to explore the guts and the glory of Western Americanism will enjoy this book for its gritty realism. It is a trip into the past, transporting the reader to another time, while telling the true story of Dodge City."—Western Historical Quarterly
"Dykstra and Manfra have carefully woven together rich material to produce a delightful read for anyone interested in cowboys, the cattle trade, cow town pioneers, and violent western towns."—Montana The Magazine of Western History
"Dykstra and Manfra bring Dodge back to reality and describe expertly how it earned its reputation and then became tamed. "—Kansas History
"A timely study of the myths and legends of the most famous of all the cow towns."—The Tombstone Epitaph
"History buffs and proud Kansans alike will enjoy the compelling, well-written words of Dykstra and Manfra as they share the legends, myths and realities of Dodge City and the Old West."—Wichita Eagle
“Dykstra and Manfra furnish a top drawer study of the history, legends, and memories of Dodge City, Kansas. Their well-written book provides a model for similar examinations of other Wild West towns. Superb work.”—Richard W. Etulain, author of The Life and Legends of Calamity Jane
“Dodge City and the Birth of the Wild West is a carefully researched, engagingly written, and well-organized study of the real and the imagined “Dodge City.” It is also a timely book, considering the nation’s ongoing debate over the nature of Second Amendment rights and open/concealed carry, even though the historical Dodge City, upon which the “Wild West” of legend and the Dodge City of metaphor (“get out of Dodge”) are based, ceased to exist more than 130 years ago.”—Virgil W. Dean, editor of John Brown to Bob Dole: Movers and Shakers in Kansas History
“In Dodge City and the Birth of the Wild West the authors have come close to creating actual time travel. Readers will find themselves transported in 1872 and the beginning of a town that became notorious nationally for wickedness and gunplay. Thanks to a wealth of original sources, this book reeks of authenticity with a dash of tongue-in-cheek humor.”—Tom Clavin, author of Dodge City: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West
