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
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Irma Park
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There's nothing better on a sunny, summer day than a family barbeque at the city park! Cody's city park was originally called Irma Park, named after Buffalo Bill's youngest daughter.
The band shell in the southwest corner of the park is used for outdoor entertainment and summer concerts. In the northeast corner of the park you will see a statue of Buffalo Bill holding a child. The statue titled "The Spirit of Cody" was created by local sculptor Jeffrey Burnham Rudolph in 1999. The base is a Greek pedestal with bison silhouettes on each side symbolizing past civilization. The bronze symbolizes the time of Buffalo Bill. He is holding Irma bolstering future generations on his shoulder. Irma is holding his hat in the air symbolizing the sun and looking to the future. The statue holds a time capsule that will be opened on December 31, 2049.
Cody Trading Company
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Long before there was a Wal-Mart, the Cody Trading Company was the popular place to go to pick up hardware, dry goods, food and clothing. The site which you now see as Pizza on the Run, was once a thriving, one-stop shopping department store. Businessmen from Buffalo, New York established the Cody Trading Company in 1898. It became one of the most important mercantile businesses in the state due to the keen discernment and wise direction of partner and manager Jacob (Jake) M. Schwoob.
Mr. Schwoob played an important role in shaping not only the history of Cody, but also the entire state of Wyoming. He was Cody's first town treasurer and was elected mayor of Cody in 1903. After a two year term he was elected to the Wyoming state senate and served as president in 1911. He was the first person to own a car in Cody and he sponsored legislation requiring motor vehicle registration which produced revenue for Wyoming's first highway system. When license plates were introduced in Wyoming in 1913, Mr. Schwoob was given Wyoming license plate number one. The Cody Trading Company closed its doors in 1963.
