Members of the cast of the TV western series ‘Bonanza’, circa 1965

Members of the cast of the TV western series ‘Bonanza’, circa 1965.

The Cartwrights’ one-thousand-square-mile Ponderosa Ranch is located near Virginia City, Nevada, site of the Comstock Silver Lode, during and after the Civil War. Each of the three sons was born to a different wife of Ben’s; none of the mothers are still alive. Adventures are typical Western ones, with lots of personal relationships/problems thrown in as well.