Buffalo Bill Center of the West facts for kids
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| Established | 1917 |
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| Location | 720 Sheridan Avenue Cody, Wyoming, United States |
| Type | American West museums |
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a huge place in Cody, Wyoming. It's like five museums all in one! You can explore amazing art and objects from the American West here. It also has a special library for research.
This center used to be called the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. It was started in 1917 to honor William F. Cody, who was also known as "Buffalo Bill." It's the oldest and biggest museum complex about the American West.
The five museums inside are:
- The Buffalo Bill Museum
- The Plains Indians Museum
- The Whitney Western Art Museum
- The Draper Natural History Museum
- The Cody Firearms Museum
Contents
Discovering the American West
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West started in 1917. This was after William F. Cody, or Buffalo Bill, passed away. A group called the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association was formed to remember him. Over time, more parts were added to what began as a history center.
Today, the building covers seven acres. It holds more than 50,000 items! These items are spread across the five different museums.
Since 2008, the center has been part of the Smithsonian Affiliates program. This means it's connected to the famous Smithsonian museums. It was the first museum in Wyoming to get this special status. Because of this, the Center of the West has shown items from the Smithsonian. It has also sent some of its own collections to Smithsonian exhibits in Washington, D.C.
All the museums share a common idea: the history, culture, art, and nature of the American West. The main goal of the Center of the West is to help people connect with the American West.
Buffalo Bill Museum
The first museum opened in 1927. It was in a log cabin across the street from where it is now. In 1968, it moved and became part of the five-museum complex.
This museum shows you all about the life of William F. Cody. It also explores the "Buffalo Bill" character he created. This character made him one of the most famous people in the world during his time.
The museum highlights how famous Cody became with his "Buffalo Bill's Wild West show." It also shows how he helped the American West grow and develop.
Plains Indians Museum
This museum tells the stories of Plains Indian people. It shows their cultures, traditions, and histories. It also looks at their lives today. The first person to take care of the museum's items was George Horse-Capture. He was a member of the A'aninin tribe.
Most of the collection is from the time when Native Americans were first moved to reservations. This was around 1880 to 1930. It has items mainly from Northern Plains tribes. These include the Arapaho, Lakota, Crow, Cheyenne, Blackfeet, and Pawnee. The museum also has important modern items, like abstract art and star quilts.
The museum hosts a yearly Powwow. It happens on the third weekend in June. This event brings dancers, artists, and visitors from all over North America.
Whitney Western Art Museum
This museum displays paintings and sculptures of the American West. The art gallery first opened in 1959. Later, it joined with the Buffalo Bill Museum.
In June 2009, it reopened after being updated. You can see copies of the art studios of Frederic Remington and Alexander Phimister Proctor. This helps visitors learn about how these artists worked.
The museum also features art by other classic Western artists. These include George Catlin, Edgar Samuel Paxson, and Thomas Moran. Modern Western artists like Harry Jackson and Deborah Butterfield are also shown. You can even create your own art at interactive stations!
Draper Natural History Museum
This museum has about 20,000 square feet of exhibits. These exhibits are interactive and fun. They show you the geology, wildlife, and human history of the Greater Yellowstone region.
Videos, natural history dioramas, and photos bring the area to life. You can experience the sights, sounds, and even smells! You'll see specimens of grizzlies, wolves, bighorn sheep, and elk.
Cody Firearms Museum
The Cody Firearms Museum was completely updated in 2019. It is now the most complete firearms museum in the United States. The collection includes guns from the 16th century to modern times.
It shows how firearms have been "tools for human activities." The museum has 7,000 individual firearms. About 4,200 of these are on display. There are also about 20,000 other related items. The main part of the museum is the Winchester Repeating Arms Company collection. This collection moved from Connecticut to Cody in 1976. Since then, the museum has added firearms from many other companies.
Programs and Activities
The Center of the West offers many programs for visitors. These include interesting talks and fun family activities. They also sometimes have chuckwagon dinners, depending on the season.
McCracken Research Library
The library has a huge collection of 36,000 books. It also has over 600 collections of old papers and more than a million photos. It is named after Harold McCracken, a writer and artist. He helped develop the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
The library helps people research many topics about the American West. It has strong collections about Buffalo Bill and his Wild West show. You can also find information on Plains Indians, ranching, and Yellowstone National Park.
