While we often associate the cowboy hat with the Old West, it wasn’t the most common headwear for cowboys in the 19th century.
Instead, many cowboys preferred the bowler or derby hat because it stayed on better while riding and was more practical for the dusty, windy conditions.
The iconic wide-brimmed cowboy hat, as popularized by John B. Stetson with his “Boss of the Plains,” didn’t become widespread until later in the century.
