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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Demaris House
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The Cody Heritage Museum is housed in one of the early buildings to appear on Sheridan Ave. The DeMaris home belonged to one of Cody's earliest residents.
Charles DeMaris first came to Cody in 1883 after hearing about the healing properties of nearby hot springs. He had suffered with poor health and had heard that the Crow Indians discovered and used the hot mineral water for their medicinal effect. After soaking in the springs, he became a believer in the Crow discovery, settled on and eventually bought 160 acres which included three hot springs. He built a hotel and bathhouse there and called the area DeMaris Needlebath Plunge.
In 1898 Charles married Nellie Fitzgerald, in one of the first weddings ever held in Cody. They bought this lot here in 1906. Their home was the first building on this block.
The museum, scheduled to open in 2017, shares history and memorabilia of the town's rich heritage.
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.
