Annie was both wholesome and daring, which made her simultaneously reassuring and provocative to her fans. On one hand she was beautiful and primly and properly feminine: She had a tradition, respectable marriage, embroidery was her favorite pastime, and the Bible her favorite book. On the other hand, she wore her hair long and dresses short at a time when Victorian women were more modest in appearance. And Annie brandished a rifle-a potent symbol of manhood-which she was a master at handling. Aware of her paradoxical traits, Annie once referred to herself as "a crack shot in petticoats."

According to legend, when Annie was 21, a ranking marksman came to town and challenged her to a show-down. Frank E. Butler was satisfied when he hit 21 out of 25 clay pigeons-that is until Annie blasted 23 of 25 out of the sky. Frank gracefully acknowledged her skill-in fact, his admiration was so great that he courted Annie and within a year they were married.

Born Phoebe Ann Mosey in 1860, Annie started shooting when she was barely big enough to hold a rifle. Her father died when she was five, leaving her mother with no money and a brood of hungry children. Though the force of her first shot left eight-year-old Annie with a broken nose, she succeeded in hitting her target. In fact, once Annie got her hands on a gun, her family never lacked for food.

Annie was literally and figurative a straight shooter. She practiced religiously, refused to use deceptions, and she wouldn't wear makeup. She wowed audiences the world over with such feats as hitting a dime in a man's hand while leaving his fingers intact and hitting a target over her shoulder by viewing its reflection in a knife blade.

Excerpted from the book Cool Women with permission of publisher, Girl Press.

Learn More About Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley Foundation
http://www.ormiston.com/annieoakley/
See photos and read the myths and the real stories about Annie at this site by the Annie Oakley Foundation.

Annie Get Your Gun Study Guide
http://www.anniegetyourgun.com/study-guide-real-annie.htm
Read about the real Annie Oakley and the play based on her life.

Women of the West Museum
http://www.wowmuseum.org
Highlights the important role of women in the development of the West. Site features a virtual museum gallery, lesson plans, quote of the week and woman of the week.

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