Explore the storied wild west history of the town founded by the legendary Buffalo Bill
About This Tour
Cody, Wyoming was founded in 1896 by the living legend, Colonel William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who at the age of 41 was one of the most famous men in the world.
Walk through downtown Cody and travel back to the frontier days, exploring sites such as:
- Carnegie library founded by literary frontierswomen with help from Andrew Carnegie - Irma Hotel, Buffalo Bill’s “Hotel in the Rockies,” named after his daughter - Chamberlin Inn, where celebrity guests like Ernest Hemingway stayed
This tour was created in partnership with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Park County Travel Council. It was made possible by the generosity of the Nielson Family. Narrated by retired local radio broadcaster Mack Frost.
Sample Stories
For more content, click the "Explore this Tour Remotely" button below.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
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For centuries, people have been drawn to the American West. They came as explorers and pioneers, cowboys and ranchers, Native Americans and settlers -- people with vision, courage, and strong values and beliefs. Driven by the spirit of the land, they imagined what could be and, in the process, they forged the American West.
William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody was one of those people -- explorer and frontiersman, soldier and scout, actor and showman, entrepreneur and civic leader -- as captivated by the West as are today's visitors. Indeed, from his days living and working on the frontier to the 30 years of his Wild West show, the name of Buffalo Bill was synonymous with the West. He became both an iconic image of the American West and a tireless ambassador for it to the country and to much of the world.
From his TE Ranch southwest of Cody to the Irma Hotel downtown, Cody, Wyoming, held a special place in the heart of Buffalo Bill. He was a town builder and entrepreneur, but always a devoted fan of the West.
William F. Cody was also a consummate storyteller and enthusiastic student of history. A little more than a century ago, as his Wild West played in arenas around the world, he contemplated his legacy. He dreamed of a new arena that would "teach people by seeing history." And just as he brought the West to the world, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West has adopted the very same mission for the past 100 years. The Center is convinced that there really is no better place to meet the legendary showman and the West he loved than in its five museums:
*The Buffalo Bill Museum tells the story of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody and the West he loved.
*The Cody Firearms Museum boasts a comprehensive collection of American and foreign firearms.
*The Draper Natural History Museum connects humans and nature in the Greater Yellowstone region.
*The Plains Indian Museum shares traditions, stories, and culture of the Northern Plains Indians.
*The Whitney Western Art Museum displays priceless masterworks of the American West.
From his life experiences to his Wild West show, he carried the West to a worldwide audience. Following his death in 1917, his family and friends united in the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association to preserve his memory and the West he loved, and for a hundred years, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West has nurtured Cody's dream here in the town that bears his name.
Long live the Wild West!
Carnegie Library
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If it's getting close to lunch or dinner time and the smell of pizza is in the air, you are getting close to the site of the old Carnegie library. Where you now see Millstone Pizza, Cody's Carnegie library once stood.
In 1904 a group of women in Cody decided Cody needed a library. In an effort to build a library, the Women's Club of Cody asked for a contribution from Andrew Carnegie. Unfortunately, his foundation would only contribute funds to county seats. The club did, however, succeed in acquiring land and built a small library in 1906. After Cody became the county seat of the newly organized Park County in 1909 a contribution from Carnegie was received.
Mabel Wilkinson from Greeley, Colorado became Cody's first professional librarian and the opening ceremonies for the Carnegie library were held on the evening of May 9, 1916. The library was added on to in the early 1960s and when it became apparent that the Carnegie building had suffered termite damage and could not be repaired, it was demolished to make way for another addition that was dedicated in 1965. After the county library moved to a new location in 2008 the former library building was sold. When renovations were made to convert the library into Millstone Pizza, a time capsule was discovered behind a 1965 cornerstone. Inside were photos of the old Carnegie library, various documents, and several old coins.
