Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Annie Oakley?

Annie Oakley (1860-1926) was the greatest, most famous exhibition shooter in American history. But what do you know about this prim, proper and petite lady who could shoot a gun better than any man? Take our 10-question quiz to find out. But be careful, you just might learn something—and have some fun doing it, too!

 
1.   Where was Annie Oakley born?
      a.  Darke County, Ohio
      b.  Darke County, Indiana
      c.  Darke County, Illinois
      d.  Darke County, Iowa
 
2.   Before adopting her stage name of Annie Oakley, what was Annie’s real name?
      a.  Phoebe Ann Oakley
      b.  Phoebe Ann Mosey
      c.  Bono
      d.  Madonna
 
3.   How did Annie Oakley meet her future husband and manager, Frank Butler?
      a.  While competing against him in a watermelon-eating contest
      b.  While competing against him in a dance contest
      c.  While competing against him in a shooting contest
      d.  The couple met at a church ice cream social
 
4.   For years, Annie Oakley traveled both North America and Europe demonstrating her shooting prowess with what show?
      a.  Barnum & Bailey Circus
      b.  New York Metropolitan Opera
      c.  Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
      d.  At times, all of the above
 
5.   During her public shooting demonstrations, Annie always wore knee-length skirts over leggings and had her hair down. How did she obtain her costumes?
      a.  Her husband Frank purchased them for her
      b.  She sewed them herself
      c.  The outfitter Abercrombie & Fitch of New York City provided them
      d.  None of the above
 
6.   Annie Oakley performed using what firearm during her shooting exhibitions?
      a.  Handgun
      b.  Rifle
      c.  Shotgun
      d.  All of the above
 
7.   Annie Oakley performed which of the following shooting tricks for audiences?
      a.  Shooting an apple off her pet dog’s head
      b.  Shooting over her shoulder by using the blade of a Bowie knife as a mirror and splitting a playing card held in Frank’s hand
      c.  Shooting while standing on a galloping horse
      d.  Shooting double targets while riding a bicycle
      e.  Shooting flames off candles as they rotated on a wheel
      f.   Individually shattering six thrown glass targets in the air before they could hit the ground
      g.  All of the above
 
8.   What famous Indian chief nicknamed Annie Oakley “Little Sure Shot”?
      a.  Tecumseh
      b.  Crazy Horse
      c.  Sitting Bull
      d.  Red Cloud
 
9.   At the age of 65, one of Annie Oakley’s last public appearances was at the Grand American National Trapshooting Championships at Vandalia, OH, in 1925. A local newspaper report following the event described Annie as still having all her…?”
      a.  Wits about her
      b.  Ever-present smile
      c.  Teeth
      d.  All of the above
 
10.   Shooters today still visit Annie Oakley’s grave located in the small Brock Cemetery in Darke County, OH. When doing so, they often leave what item atop her gravestone?
       a.  An empty .22 shell casing
       b.  A clay target
       c.  A penny
       d.  All of the above

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Quiz Answers

1.  a.  Darke County, Ohio
2.  b.  Phoebe Ann Mosey
3.  c.  While competing against him in a shooting contest
4.  c.  Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
5.  b.  She sewed them herself
6.  d.  All of the above
7.  g.  All of the above
8.  c.  Sitting Bull
9.  c.  Teeth
10.  c.  A penny (During her shows Annie would shoot a penny or sometimes even a dime out of Frank’s fingers. Don’t try that at home!)

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Grade Card

Well, how did you do? The quiz wasn’t easy, was it?

• Zero to five answers correct = C
• Six to eight answers correct = B
• Nine to 10 answers correct = A

Have you ever considered becoming an exhibition shooter yourself someday?

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