The western character Calamity Jane was born Martha Jane Canary-Burke in Princeton, Missouri, on May 1, 1852. Many exaggerated stories have been told about her, but she herself provided the bulk of them in a short autobiography she wrote in 1896.

Among other things, Jane claimed to have been a Pony Express rider, a scout for General George Armstrong Custer, and to have been present when Wild Bill Hickok was killed. Some of her stories appear to be true, while others seem to stretch the known facts.

Regarding her nickname, Jane explained how, at the age of 20, while working as a scout for General Custer, "We were ordered out to quell an uprising of the Indians, and were out for several days, had numerous skirmishes during which six of the soldiers were killed and several severely wounded. When on returning to the Post, we were ambushed about a mile and a half from our destination. When fired upon, Captain Egan was shot. I was riding in advance and, on hearing the firing, turned in my saddle and saw the Captain reeling in his saddle as though about to fall. I turned my horse and galloped back with all haste to his side and got there in time to catch him as he was falling. I lifted him onto my horse in front of me and succeeded in getting him safely to the Fort. Captain Egan, on recovering, laughingly said: 'I name you Calamity Jane, the heroine of the plains.' I have borne that name up to the present time. . . ."

Regardless of the truth, Calamity Jane was one of the most colorful figures in the American west, and in 1896 she began employment at the Palace Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her billing, among other things, included, "heroine of a thousand thrilling adventures" and "famous woman scout of the Wild West."

Jane died in 1903 at the age of 51. On her death bed she supposedly made the request, "Bury me beside Wild Bill." Her request was honored, and her remains are next to his in Deadwood, South Dakota.