Cody's Buffalo Bill Center of the West provides returns, surprises time after time

MULTIPLE VISITS NEVER DISAPPOINT AT WORLD CLASS CODY, WYOMING MUSEUM

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West draws an international clientele to Cody, Wyo.  It houses five  fine museums.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

The Carpe Diem Kids

The road to Cody feels like a journey into a living Western story. As we stepped inside the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, we expected a museum dedicated to Buffalo Bill Cody.

What we discovered instead was an entire world of stories spread across five museums cowboys and outlaws, Indigenous cultures, wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone region,

Western masterpieces, and the larger-than-life legend of Buffalo Bill himself. Hours passed quickly as each gallery revealed another layer of the American West, making this one of those rare places where history feels less like a lesson and more like an adventure.

A painting of  Wild Bill Hickock and Buffalo Bill Cody is one of the most admired and talked about in the Whitney Western Art Museum.

FOR DECADES now, I've enjoyed the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. It's a road trip highlight with family, friends or visitors from other states and countries..

For years, this stunning complex of five museums, was known as the Buffalo Bill Center

In our nearby town of Cody, Wyoming,

One doesn't have to be a gun aficionado to appreciate Cody's Firearms Museum.

IF YOU'RE a fan of art of the West, you'll enjoy my favorite of the quintet of museums, the Whitney Western Art Museum. You'll see a majestic Deborah Butterfield bronze horse, a stunning collection of western paintings ranging from Albert Bierstadt to N.C. Wyeth, with everything in between.  There are fun, recent paintings and sculpture, too, besides the time honored portfolio of artists who joined in and promoted the western expansion effort, or who simply came to know and love the west through visits as tourists.

I ALWAYS discover something new, and revisit favorite pieces.

Upcoming Event

Lunchtime Expedition: A Place of Their Own – Bison Culture and the Northern Plains

July 2 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT

Buffalo Bill Center of the West 720 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY, United States

Join Dr. Shane Doyle, Director of Indigenous Right Relations for North America, the Caribbean, and Micronesia at The Nature Conservancy

Buffalo Bill Center

1. Location and Hours: The center is located in Cody, Wyoming, and is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.

2. Admission Fees: General admission is $20 for adults, with discounts for seniors, students, and children.

3. Exhibits: The center features five museums showcasing Western art, history, and culture, including Buffalo Bill's life.

4. Guided Tours: Guided tours are available and can enhance your experience; check the schedule for times.

5. Events and Programs: The center hosts various events throughout the year, including lectures, workshops, and family activities.

6. Accessibility: The facility is wheelchair accessible, with accommodations available for visitors with disabilities.

The famous painting of the Custer Battle, whose anniversary is this week, always has people around it.   Did you know that painter Edgar  Samuel Paxson arrived in Montana in 1877, the year after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, to begin his prodigious research?

The painter's interest in the battle -- almost an obsession -- would become a defining element in his artistic career, culminating in his major work, "Custer’s Last Stand."

You may not realize that the Center of the West contains five museums plus a world renowned research library.

The Plains Indian Museum has a world-class collection of artifacts.

Edgar Paxson's famously detailed  painting of the Custer Battle

Besides the Whitney, the Draper Natural History Museum showcases the rich life, power and beauty of the natural world of the Yellowstone region.  The Plains Indian Museum's elegant and elaborate collection depicts in beautifully curated displays the lives and legends of the Plains Indian people, and the Buffalo Bill Museum explores the world of the man after whom the town of Cody, and the museum, are named.

THE CODY  Firearms Museum is a must for anyone interested in guns, the lore of firearms and their importance in history.

Cody's shoot-out  attracts those looking for corny but entertaining, old-west fun, each night by the Irma Hotel.

The museum houses the world's most comprehensive collection of American firearms. In 1975, the Winchester Arms Collection, the heart of this museum, came to Cody on loan from the Olin Corporation. It was hugely received and gifted in 1988, enjoyed by thousands since. The museum houses 7,000 firearms with 30,000 firearms-related artifacts. A gun lover's paradise to be sure.

COMING UP: Grab the gang and head for Fishtail Family Fun Days, a real kick in the pants.

The Fishtail General Store is an institution in the tiny town of Fishtail, Montana.

Fishtail General Store, headquarters for fun, food and a two-mile long, parade. Not bad for a one-block town. Plus bakery, crafts, kids events and more.

Fishtail General Store, Fishtail, Montana

The historic Fishtail General Store is entering a new chapter in 2026. After more than 25 years of ownership, Katy Martin is passing the reins to Bryan Rose and Celena Ross, who plan to continue the store’s long tradition as the heart of the Fishtail community.

The beloved general store, which has served residents and travelers since 1900, remains a gathering place for groceries, supplies, local news, and friendly conversation in the shadow of the Beartooth Mountains.

If this destination sparked your wanderlust, there’s plenty more waiting for you

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