Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, WY

Web site: www.bbhc.org
Press Contact: Lee Haines, LeeH@BBHC.ORG, 307-578-4014

Exterior view of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.

Buffalo Bill Cody was one of the most famous men of his time, and he earned his nickname as a prolific buffalo hunter for the Kansas Pacific Railroad. But he was equally well known for his exploits as an army scout, an entrepreneur, and, of course, as the proprietor and star of the Buffalo Bill Wild West shows. Buffalo Bill also founded the city of Cody, Wyoming, now home of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, which examines and interprets the life of this legendary figure, the times in which he lived, and the art and history of the Old West. Operating as seven distinct institutions—the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Draper Museum of Natural History, the Plains Indian Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the McCracken Research Library, and the Cody Institute for Western American Studies— the center contains 35,000 artifacts, 20,000 books, and more than 500,000 photographs, all of which are available for study and appreciation by the 200,000 people who visit the center each year.

The center’s Museum Adventures project brings together the five on-site museums to offer programming that meets the needs of students in isolated communities who have little or no access to the arts and humanities. Participants in the adventures program can attend the American Indian Heritage Celebration, which features Plains Indian art and history as interpreted by Plains artists, storytellers, dancers, and musicians; celebrate Buffalo Bill’s birthday and see what life was like when he was alive; or enjoy the Cowboy Songs & Range Ballads weekend to learn more about western heritage through stories and songs.

Visitors to the center are invited to participate in Lunchtime Expeditions, hosted monthly from May through December by the Draper Museum of Natural History. This free series of public programs explores natural resources and history, as well as conservation, management, and other issues affecting the Greater Yellowstone region’s ecosystem. Recent topics have included the status of elk populations in the Absaroka Mountains and an update on the area wolf population. The program regularly attracts capacity crowds.

All visitors, young and old, are encouraged to attend the Plains Indian Museum Powwow, which has been an annual event for the past 27 years. The Powwow attracts more than 5,000 visitors from around the globe and lasts for two days in the Robbie Powwow Garden on the grounds of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Attendees are invited to sit in on informal classes on the traditions of powwow—including clothing, dancing, and etiquette —and also learn about contemporary issues facing Indian tribes across the United States.

During the dark days of winter, the center hosts Fourth Friday, a free event that provides area residents an opportunity to see their friends, enjoy entertainment, explore one of the five museums, and attend educational programming presented by the center’s curatorial staff. Fourth Friday events happen in January, February, and March, and attract, on average, 500 participants each month.

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center can attribute its success to a number of things, including its creative programming, its educational outreach, and its connection to the Cody community. But it is the diversity of the center’s institutions and the opportunities that visitors have to make their experience at the center their own that are truly unique.

“The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is immensely deserving of the 2008 National Medal because of its long-standing commitment to public service and educational outreach,” said U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), who nominated the Center for the award. "This is the most prestigious national accolade a museum can receive. I am pleased the Institute of Museum and Library Services is recognizing the Center as one of the best in the country for outstanding community contributions.”

“We, in Wyoming, know just how important museums like the Buffalo Bill Historical Center are to the heart of our rural communities. They preserve our history and provide residents with cultural enrichment opportunities and invaluable public services. I am proud of all that the Buffalo Bill Historical Center has done for Cody, the Big Horn Basin and our state. Congratulations to everyone at the museum for winning the 2008 National Medal,” Enzi said.

“I congratulate the Buffalo Bill Historical Center on this outstanding achievement,” said U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY). “I am thrilled to see the Buffalo Bill Historical Center honored for its efforts in educating the public about the rich history, natural beauty, and diverse culture of Wyoming and the American West.”

“The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is truly an organization deserving of such a high honor,” said U.S. epresentative Barbara Cubin (R-WY-At Large). “Its work in Cody brings to life the history of this wild-west town and recreates the adventures of Buffalo Bill Cody. These exhibits also honor the culture of Wyoming’s Plains Indians, celebrate Western Art and represent our great state’s outdoor traditions. It has been my pleasure working with this organization to advance their work and I commend them on receiving the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.”

Community Member Rick Stonehouse
Rick Stonehouse and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center Grow up Together
Rick Stonehouse's parents were outfitters and guides near Cody, Wyoming. To enhance their guests' Old West experience, the Stonehouses would bring them to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, so Stonehouse visited the Center from an early age. As a high school student, Stonehouse took the museum for granted, but as a college student, his interest was renewed. He attended summer classes on topics ranging from Native American culture taught by people from the Crow reservation to the grizzlies and wolves of Yellowstone. After college, he pursued a graduate degree in American studies and began taking part in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center's Larom Summer Institute in Western American Studies to supplement his Master's degree work at the University of Wyoming. In 1992, Stonehouse returned to Wyoming and developed an American Studies class at Powell High School, using the Center as an extension of his classroom. In 1999, Stonehouse began teaching Western American Literature at Cody High School, which is only two blocks from the Center. Every year, his students explore the Center's five galleries and complete teacher-produced scavenger hunts. In addition, Stonehouse’s students recently created a program to share with the community stories based on their interviews with local characters. As a member of the Center's Educator Advisory Committee, Stonehouse has helped plan educational programs for students of all ages. He continues to enjoy the classes offered at the Center.