Buffalo Bill Cody's Museum

This unassuming building stands by the main road through Cody. It seems as though it would be a good stop for a few hours—one to stretch your legs and maybe catch a bite. But there is much more in store for you!

As you pay your entry fee, you are given a hand-stamp that will allow you back in the next day. Why, you ask yourself, would I need to come back tomorrow? The answer stares you in the face. This place is HUGE!

At the rear of the building is the Plains Indian exhibit, one that can take several hours to tour if you are the kind to read everything. It starts with the Plains Indians and how they lived prior to the "European invasion" of their lands. It continues with how they adapted or were made to adapt to the intrusion into their homes. The textiles are explained as to the way they were made and the uses they were put to. The bead work is fascinating and intricate.

The wing that shows the life and times of Buffalo Bill Cody has many interesting items. Posters from his "tours" through America and Europe are hung around the area. Wagons and rooms are recreated to show the ways people lived at that historical time.

There is also a wing on the geologic formation of the area and one where firearms are displayed. The last wing is an art wing that has many Western Art items. Paintings and bronzes are displayed alongside each other. Some are from modern artists and some are from the turn of the past century. It is interesting to see the progression of the art forms.

If you have more than one day to spend here, do it! We didn't have the time and now have to make another trip our west so that we can visit this museum again and see what we missed this first trip.

Be sure to stop at the back window in the art wing and see the bronze statue of Buffalo Bill silhouetted against the mountains.