Rediscovering the American West with Dr. Paul Hutton: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Undiscovered Country

In one of the most inspiring and thought-provoking episodes of *Arizona Roundup*, host **Stuart Rosebrook** sits down with renowned historian **Dr. Paul Andrew Hutton**—a man who has spent a lifetime telling the story of the American West. Currently serving as the **Tate Chair of Western History** and **Interim Curator of the Buffalo Bill Museum** at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, Hutton joins the program to discuss his latest bestseller, *The Undiscovered Country: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Shaping of the American West*.

This conversation—part history lesson, part life reflection—reminds listeners that the frontier story is far from over. It lives on in the American imagination, in the art of reinvention, and in the enduring quest to understand who we are as a people.

A Historian on the Road

From his early days teaching at the University of New Mexico to his current role in Cody, Dr. Hutton embodies the spirit of exploration he writes about. His new book—now in its fourth printing and on the *New York Times* bestseller list—connects deeply with readers because it weaves together adventure, scholarship, and the timeless human desire to find meaning in history.

As Hutton told Rosebrook, moving from Albuquerque to Cody was like “going back in time.” His daily surroundings—the five museums housed within the Buffalo Bill Center of the West—immerse him in living history. Visitors, he notes, need at least two days to explore it all. “It’s magical,” he says, “and it still takes my breath away.”

From Davy Crockett to Buffalo Bill

Hutton’s *The Undiscovered Country* tells the sweeping saga of America’s westward expansion through seven larger-than-life figures: **Daniel Boone, Red Eagle, Davy Crockett, Mangas Coloradas, Kit Carson, Sitting Bull,** and **Buffalo Bill Cody**. Through their intertwined lives, Hutton captures both the triumph and tragedy of the American experiment—its soaring ideals and its painful costs.

He explains that the book’s title comes from *Hamlet*: the “undiscovered country” that symbolizes both the mystery of death and the unknown journey ahead. For the pioneers, it meant stepping into a vast new land; for readers, it invites reflection on their own frontiers of discovery.

Lessons from the Frontier

Throughout the conversation, Rosebrook and Hutton explore themes that resonate far beyond history: the art of reinvention, the importance of teaching, and the enduring power of storytelling. Hutton admits that even after decades of writing, the hardest task is composing museum captions—“serious writing,” he laughs, “where every word counts.”

His personal story—an 18-year-old Indiana boy driving west in a VW bus in 1968, dreaming of history—mirrors the very journeys he now writes about. “America,” he says, “has always been about reinvention. The West is where you can leave your past behind and start again.”

Things to Remember, Share, and Take Note Of

- **History isn’t just the past—it’s a mirror.** The stories of Boone, Crockett, and Sitting Bull reflect our ongoing search for identity and purpose.
- **Reinvention is America’s secret strength.** From pioneers to modern entrepreneurs, the West reminds us we can always begin again.
- **Museums are living classrooms.** Places like the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Sharlot Hall Museum preserve not just artifacts, but the heart of the American experience.
- **Captions and storytelling matter.** The smallest details—one sentence, one story—can open entire worlds of understanding.

Closing Thoughts: Finding Our Own Undiscovered Country

As *Arizona Roundup* continues to celebrate the people and stories that define the West, this episode stands as a reminder that the frontier spirit is not a relic—it’s a roadmap. Whether in life, business, or community, we all stand at the edge of our own “undiscovered country,” faced with choices of courage, curiosity, and compassion.

Dr. Paul Hutton’s journey—and his remarkable book—invite us to take that next step into the unknown, to rediscover what’s best in our history and ourselves.

Learn More

To experience the full conversation with Dr. Paul Hutton, listen to *Arizona Roundup* on your favorite podcast platform.
Visit the **Sharlot Hall Museum** in Prescott, Arizona, to explore exhibits that keep the spirit of the West alive.
Learn more at **sharlothallmuseum.org** and plan to attend upcoming events featuring Western historians, writers, and storytellers.