The book's 24 chapters tell the stories of the Round-Up's founding and early years, its discovery by Hollywood, Indian participation from the Round-Up's establishment, the cowgirls' era, legendary performers, the families and volunteer spirit that sustain the annual event and much more. Appendices include complete listings of Round-up winners, Round-Up and Happy Canyon courts, Round-Up presidents, Round-Up Indian chiefs and Round-Up Hall of Fame honorees.

Unique among all rodeos, Pendleton included participants from surrounding Native American tribes--Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla--in its first year, and every year since. Roberta Conner, head of the Tamastslikt cultural institute, contributes to this volume an important summary of the changing relationship between the tribes and the event.

The 1911 Round-Up was the setting for the legendary showdown between black cowboy, George Fletcher; Indian cowboy Jackson Sundown; and white cowboy John Spain, all competing for the prize saddle. Known as "The Last Go Round" and still controversial, it was the subject of Ken Kesey's final 1994 novel. Hollywood discovered champions such as Yakima Canutt and Mabel Strickland and made them stunt-riders and even stars of silent films. In fact, cowgirls were as important as cowboys in the early years, despite the dangers; it took the tragic death of champion Bonnie McCarroll in Pendleton's ring in 1929 to end the era of female competitors. However, horsewomen continue to participate as champion riders.