Annie Oakley is one of the most admirable characters in American history, a five-foot-tall, larger-than-life woman from Darke County, Ohio who was self-reliant and never stood down from a challenge or fight.  

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   She has been called the first American woman to become a Super Star, achieving international fame as a sharpshooter and performer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is said that she never missed a shot. She could shoot accurately with both hands, over her shoulder looking through a mirror and while standing on top of a horse. She could hit six moving targets in succession, pennies thrown in the air, and the hearts on playing cards held at a distance in the hand of her faithful husband and assistant, Frank E. Butler. She outshined any competitor she faced, both male and female, including her husband, and she did it with her own style and grace.    

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   As part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show she performed before millions of people around the world, including royalty. She famously shot the ash from a cigarette held in the mouth of Fridrich Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia who helped ignite World War I. Annie later regretted not moving her rifle a little to the left.    

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   When that war did eventually break out, Annie wrote to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson and offered to fully fund and raise a regiment of women volunteers to fight. Not only this, she also offered to teach American soldiers how to accurately shoot. Unfortunately for history, both of her offers were turned down by the Secretary.    

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   She also once wrote to President William McKinley and offered to lead a team of 50 women sharpshooters to fight in the Spanish American War. This offer also was turned down.  

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  Along with overcoming a tragic childhood, later in life Annie survived a train crash and a car crash, not to mention having her good name slandered in one of William Randolph Hurst’s newspapers. The slanderous article, which reported that Annie stole a man’s trousers to sell in order to support a cocaine habit, was picked up by 54 other newspapers across the United States. It was, of course, false news. Like the strong-willed person she was, Annie spent seven years suing all 55 of the newspapers who ran the false story. She won 54 of the cases. However, she ended up spending more money on her lawyer fees than she earned from the lawsuits. But money never was the goal, standing up to injustice and returning her good name were.    

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   Hurst actually sent a detective to Greenville to look into Annie’s past to dig up any dirt, but there was none to be found. He ended up paying her $27,500 in restitution. Today, that would be equal to about $400,000.    

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   Another noble act performed by Annie came at the end or her career. She melted her numerous gold medals from sharpshooting and donated the money to charity.    

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   The stories of her valor and grace go on.    

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   After traveling around the world and living at various locations in the United States, (spending much of her time hunting) Annie eventually ended up back in Darke County, living her final years near downtown Greenville with her husband of 50 years.

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The Pilgrimage                                         

   Today it is possible to visit many sights related to Annie Oakley by taking a driving tour of Greenville and northeast Darke County.    

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   Along with being adored the world over, the residents of Darke County have celebrated her remarkable life with a museum, a statue, paintings, historical markers and plaques, and even two annual festivals—the Annie Oakley Festival and Gathering at Garst, both held on the same weekend in July.    

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   The following tour connects a number of these points of interest and also includes a number of other stops un-related to Annie Oakley, but that are equally fun, such as the Maid Rite Sandwich Shoppe in downtown Greenville, the Winery at Versailles and Historic Bear’s Mill. At the end of the tour, have dinner at Buffalo Jacks in downtown Covington, which has a Wild West theme that fits well with Annie’s life and includes exotic game on the menu and Native American artifacts on the walls.

   

   Stops on the tour include Annie’s birthplace marker, the National Annie Oakley Center at the wonderful Garst Museum, a beautiful barn mural with Annie’s likeness on it, her gravesite, and numerous historical markers and statues dedicated in her honor.    

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   Starting and ending at Historic Bear’s Mill, this 57-mile tour not only provides a chance to learn more about Annie’s amazing life, but also to visit a beautiful and interesting part of western Ohio, and some very special places. Enjoy!

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(Note: If you have a chance, before taking this tour, go online and watch the PBS American Experience program about Annie Oakley on YouTube. Watch it HERE.)
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