Little Sure Shot 💥 Annie Oakley was a champion sharpshooter and star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West 💥 

Phoebe Ann Moses (or Mosey) was born in 1860 in rural Darke County, Ohio. She was just six when her father died, leaving the family destitute. At eight years old, Annie taught herself to use her father's old rifle to trap and hunt small game, to feed her siblings and mother. By age 15, she paid off the family's mortgage by selling game to local businesses and restaurants 💥

That same year, in 1875, a traveling show marksman named Frank Butler made a bet with a Cincinnati hotel owner that Butler could outshoot any fancy shooter in the area. The hotel owner purchased Annie's game, and set up a competition between Butler and 15 year old, five foot tall Annie 💥 Frank Butler lost the competition and the bet, but won Annie's heart~ the two began courting and married a year later ❤️

Annie and Frank traveled the country giving shooting exhibitions with their dog, George, an integral part of the act. Annie took the stage name Oakley, possibly from the Cincinnati neighborhood they called home. Annie performed tricks like shooting a cigarette from Frank's lips, splitting cards, snuffing out candles, and hitting dimes tossed into the air. At a performance in St. Paul, MN, in 1884, Annie befriended the Lakota leader, Sitting Bull. He was impressed with her skill and named her Watanya Cicilla, Little Sure Shot 💥 

In 1885, Annie and Frank joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West, a traveling circus-like exhibition. Annie was the star, earning more than any performer in the show, except for Buffalo Bill Cody himself. Frank happily became her manager and assistant, and she performed with the show for 17 years, even for Queen Victoria and other European crowned heads of state ✨

In 1898, Annie wrote to President McKinley, offering the government "the services of a company of lady sharpshooters" should the U.S. go to war with Spain". The Spanish-American war did occur, but Annie's offer was not accepted. However, throughout her career, Annie taught over 15,000 women how to use a rifle~ during that age, a necessary tool for survival and independence ✨️