Settlers who made their homes in American wilderness first told tall tales. In those days, before TV and movies people depended on storytelling for entertainment. After a long day's work, people gathered to relax and tell stories. Each group of workers, loggers, cowboys, railroad, and steel workers had its own tall tale hero. Having a superhuman hero with the same job, somehow made their hard-working lives easier. Perhaps it gave them courage to do their difficult and dangerous work.