The Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Plan to spend at least a full day here, or even two, to really explore this major center dedicated to life in the American West. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, founded in 1917, is a large museum complex that tells the story of the landscapes, cultures, and people who shaped the Cody region. Rather than a single museum, it brings together five under one roof, each focusing on a different aspect of the West. The first is devoted to Buffalo Bill Cody himself, and traces the remarkable life of a man who became a legend in his own lifetime- from army scout and buffalo hunter to the creator of the famous Wild West Show, which toured across the United States and Europe in the late 19th century and helped shape the image of the West as we still imagine it today. Another museum focuses on the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains, with traditional clothing, ceremonial objects, and artworks that introduce the cultures of the Lakota, Crow, Cheyenne, and Blackfeet nations, along with their history and how they adapted to a world deeply changed by the conquest of the West. You’ll also find a natural history museum dedicated to the landscapes and wildlife of the Yellowstone region, where species like grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk still live in the surrounding mountains and plains. Art lovers can explore the Whitney Western Art Museum, with paintings and sculptures that capture the wide-open landscapes of the West and the lives of its pioneers. Finally, the Cody Firearms Museum holds one of the largest collections of firearms in the world, tracing both their technical evolution and their role in American history. With its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is one of the best places to understand the American West, and your ticket is valid for two days, so you can explore at your own pace. Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or culture, it’s a rich and engaging introduction before heading out to discover the nearby landscapes of Yellowstone. Just outside the main entrance, take a moment to look at the statue of Buffalo Bill himself. This bronze sculpture, called The Man of the Plains, was created by Montana artist Bob Scriver and unveiled in 1977. It shows William F. Cody at the height of his fame, when he was traveling the world with his Wild West Show, standing in his long fringed coat, holding his hat in one hand as if greeting visitors, and a rifle in the other. Installed here in 1989, it feels like a symbolic welcome, as if the great showman himself were inviting you inside.