In the late 19th century, the American frontier was still untamed, and mining booms fueled the rapid rise of towns that seemed to appear overnight. One such place was Empire City, Kansas, a Wild West boomtown that burned brightly before fading into history. Located just north of Galena, along Short Creek, Empire City was born from the discovery of lead and zinc and became a town of high hopes, fierce rivalries, and legendary lawlessness.