Much of Wyoming’s better-known frontier history dates to the second half of the 1800s, when settlers, ranchers, soldiers, Native American nations, and outlaws all crossed paths across the American West. Cody is one of the best places in Wyoming to explore that history.
The photo on the left shows some of the authentic frontier buildings preserved at Old Trail Town just outside Cody. The buildings are original, although they were moved from different locations around the region and reconstructed together here. On the right is the grave of a frontier figure known as Blind Bill.
Inside the buildings are authentic wagons, furniture, tools, beds, and other objects from the frontier era. The collection gives you a much better sense of everyday life than simply looking at recreated buildings. On the left is a display of mounted deer heads, while the other photo shows some of the items once used by settlers and cowboys throughout the region.
I didn’t make it to a rodeo during this visit, which was unfortunate because Cody proudly calls itself the Rodeo Capital of the World. Rodeo is a major part of the town’s identity, and during the summer season there are frequent performances that draw both locals and travelers passing through on their way to Yellowstone.
Cody itself was founded by William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, one of the most famous figures associated with the American West. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is one of the town’s main attractions and turned out to be considerably larger and busier than I expected.
Before arriving, I had imagined Cody as a fairly quiet western town with only a handful of visitors. Instead, I found plenty of tourists exploring the museum, historic attractions, stores, and restaurants. The town has done an impressive job of building its identity around western history without feeling like a completely artificial theme park.
Western culture is visible throughout downtown Cody. Stores sell cowboy boots, hats, western clothing, artwork, and plenty of souvenirs tied to the town’s frontier image. Even if you aren’t particularly interested in shopping, walking through downtown gives you a good feel for the identity Cody has built around its history.
The rodeos and western stores are naturally accompanied by plenty of beer and live country music. For anyone who loves traditional western American culture, I can imagine Cody being about as close to a dream destination as you’ll find.
Buffalo Bill Dam
Just outside Cody is Buffalo Bill Dam, built across the Shoshone River. I had never heard much about the dam before visiting, so I wasn’t expecting its enormous size. Looking over the edge into the canyon below was far more impressive than I expected.
The dam was constructed to store water for irrigation in the dry Bighorn Basin and played an important role in making agriculture possible across the surrounding region. The photo on the right shows the Shoshone River continuing through the narrow canyon below the dam.
Cody ended up being much more interesting than I expected. Between Old Trail Town, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, rodeos, country music, western shops, and the dramatic scenery around Buffalo Bill Dam, the town offers a great introduction to Wyoming’s frontier history and culture.
