The Life & Legend
Annie's Story
From a poor Darke County farm to the world's stage — explore the life, skill, and legacy of Annie Oakley.
Annie Oakley, the Person
Who was the real Annie Oakley? Christened Phoebe Ann, born in 1860 to a poor Darke County farm family, she was born with a shooting skill that would make her famous.
Read chapter →Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
In 1885 Annie and Frank joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. There she befriended Sitting Bull, who called her Watanya Cicilia — "Little Sure Shot."
Read chapter →Annie's Shooting
How did Annie Oakley protect her audiences while shooting in the arena? The answer lies in her smoothbore guns and the fine shot she loaded into her cartridges.
Read chapter →Annie's Guns
Annie Oakley owned many guns. Learn about her prized Winchester from Buffalo Bill, the custom shotgun built for her by Charles Lancaster, and the many makers she favored.
Read chapter →Hollywood
From a Broadway melodrama to Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun" to a 1950s TV western, Annie Oakley became part of America's popular culture — though the screen Annie had little in common with the real one.
Read chapter →A Feminist Ahead of Her Time
Annie Oakley snubbed a king to honor a queen, championed women learning to shoot, and twice offered to raise a regiment of women sharpshooters to defend the nation.
Read chapter →Where Did Annie Oakley Live?
From a farmhouse near North Star, Ohio, to homes in New Jersey, Maryland, and Dayton, Annie Oakley lived in many places over her lifetime. Here is a timeline of the houses she called home.
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