Buffalo Bill (Shoshone) Dam and Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody

THE BUFFALO BILL DAM

The Buffalo Bill Dam (originally known as the Shoshone Dam) is located just west of Cody, on the Shoshone River. Completed in 1910, it was the highest concrete arch dam in the world, 325 feet high.  If you’re interested in it’s constructed, there is a link in the posting just below this one, along with a photo of Ron’s mother in front of the tunnel in 1939.

We spent an informative hour at the dam interpretive center. The first photo is approaching the dam from the west.

Looking toward the dam and interpretive center:

Looking downriver from the walkway on the dam:

BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER

After our stop at the dam, we spent most of the remainder of the day in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody.

Comprised of 5 Smithsonian affiliated museums, it is well worth taking a day (or two) to see.  The entrance fee is a two day pass.

Various programs are presented at the center.  On the day we were there, we were fortunate to be able to attend a dance presentation by the Wind Dancers from the native Wind Dance Reservation of Wyoming.  They perform at the center two days annually. For more than an hour, the dancers described and demonstrated their native dances.

 

 The museum complex consists of 5 separate museums.

The Plains Indian Museum:

The Buffalo Bill Museum:

The Draper Museum of Natural History:

The Cody Firearms Museum:

and The Whitney Gallery of Western Art (we didn’t have time for to see this museum).

CODY SHOOTOUT

Since 1996, six nights a week throughout summer, the Cody Gunfighters have a shootout in front of the famous Irma Hotel (named after Buffalo Bill Cody’s daughter).   Profits from the rental chairs ($1 each), posters and souvenirs go to charity. More comedy than drama, it was fun to watch as Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill Hickok triumphed once more over the bad guys.