The History of The Original Cowboy Hat

The cowboy hat has been a symbol in ourSome people don't agree that Stetson was the
Country of the tamed West. It is a symbol of thefirst one to come up with the western cowboy
American hero. While it is a fashionable symbolhat. Many feel that ranchers in Mexico and Texas
today, it was not always reflected that way.started the hat from "Sombreros". Regardless of
The man who made the cowboy hat famouswho invented the hat, Stetson definitely was the
was a man by the name of John Stetson. He isone who made it popular.
well-known for making a wide-brimmed, highThe most common type of hat was called the
crowned hat that he would use on his tours. Itpork pie. It was a soft, less expensive hat. It
was usually made out of common fur from horseremained popular until the late 1870s.
hides, and used during his wild hunting tours.Other popular names for the hats were "Boss of
The large brim of the hat helped protect againstthe Plains" and "Trapper". Most early hats had a
the sun. The crown of the hat also made it easytelescope crown and brim of 3 inches. They also
to fetch water from streams or rivers. It alsofeatured three-piece lining.
worked to start the fire by fanning it to keep theThe cowboy hat was a wonderful invention for
embers burning.farm hands and cowboys. It provided the
Stetson's hats became popular to cowboys outtransition from hand woven hats to machine
on the plains. He sold the first hat in Colorado.made hats. Today they continue to be a symbol
They called it the "ten-gallon hat". The the lateof the West, and remain a popular choice of hat
1860s the hat started being associated withstyle.
Western heroes.