Buffalo Bill State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buffalo Bill State Park |
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Shoshone Canyon in Buffalo Bill State Park
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 Buffalo Bill State Park
Location in Wyoming
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| Location | Park County, Wyoming, United States |
| Nearest city | Cody, Wyoming |
| Area | 11,290 acres (45.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,371 ft (1,637 m) |
| Designation | Wyoming state park |
| Established | 1957 |
| Named for | Buffalo Bill Cody |
| Administrator | Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails |
| Website | Buffalo Bill State Park |
Buffalo Bill State Park is a fun place in Wyoming where you can enjoy nature! It's built around a big lake, called a reservoir, which was made by the Buffalo Bill Dam. This dam holds back the Shoshone River. The park, the lake, and the dam are all named after a famous person, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. He started the nearby town of Cody and used to own a lot of the land here. At the park, you can go camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and have picnics. The Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites takes care of the park.
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Who Was Buffalo Bill Cody?
William "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a very famous person from the American Old West. He was known for his amazing shows that featured cowboys, Native Americans, and exciting Wild West adventures. He even owned some of the land that is now part of this state park!
Buffalo Bill first came to the Shoshone Canyon area in the 1870s. He worked as a guide for explorers. For about 20 years, he spent time in the area guiding hunting trips. He also worked hard to bring irrigation (a way to water crops) and farming to Park County. In 1896, he founded the nearby city of Cody, which is named after him.
Building the Buffalo Bill Dam
The construction of the Buffalo Bill Dam began in 1905. It was first called the Shoshone Dam. When it was finished in 1910, it was the tallest dam in the world! It stood at 325 feet (about 99 meters) high.
The dam is made of concrete and has a special curved shape. It was part of the Shoshone project, one of the first big projects managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. This group helps manage water resources in the United States.
Besides providing water for farms and preventing floods, the Buffalo Bill Dam also creates electricity. It uses the power of the water to run a power plant. The first parts of the power plant were built in 1922. More parts were added later to make even more electricity.
How the Park Grew
Buffalo Bill State Park was officially created in 1957. Later, in 1993, the park was rebuilt. This happened after a big eight-year project to make the dam even taller! The dam was raised by 25 feet (about 7.6 meters).
When the dam was made taller, the lake became deeper and wider. This meant the original park areas were covered by water. So, new facilities were built for visitors. A new visitors center opened at the dam when the project was finished.
In 2007, the park's picnic areas and fences were improved. This work was done by the Wyoming Conservation Corps.
What Can You Do at the Park?
Buffalo Bill State Park is a great place for outdoor fun! You can enjoy many activities here, such as:
- Fishing in the reservoir
- Boating on the lake
- Hiking on trails
- Camping under the stars
- Having picnics with family and friends
