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.

       

 

 

Having Fun with Photos

In 1939, Ron’s parents, Earl and Bethel Adamson made an amazing trip west.  In just a little more than 3 weeks, they traveled from Indiana to California, up the coast to Washington, and back home.  Earl had just purchased a new Pontiac prior to the trip.  Can you imagine a trip of that magnitude made before the Interstates, and in that length of time?  The family still has Bethel’s journal of that trip, and it is fascinating reading.  She has included prices…. breakfast for less than a dollar?

The main focus of the trip was to visit relatives in California and Washington, but they also found time to stop in several areas to see the sights.

One such area was Cody.  We have a photo of Bethel in front of the Shoshone Dam Tunnel (now known as the Buffalo Bill Tunnel)  just west of Cody.  Seventy years later, we decided to see how close we could duplicate that photo.  Unfortunately, in 1985, the decision was made to add 25 feet in height to the dam, and the tunnel Bethel was photographed near exists no more.   A new series of tunnels was built farther into the bluff.  We took this photo as near to the original position as is now possible : 

While in Cody, a photo of Earl was taken in front of the statue of Buffalo Bill Cody.  Through the ‘magic’ of Photoshop, I came a little closer to duplicating it. 

 

We often think of the difference there is in our traveling now compared to 70 years ago.  Wouldn’t Earl and Bethel have marveled to see today’s modern RVs?

(if you would like to see the rest of the photos we have from that trip, CLICK HERE .  I have labeled them just as Bethel labeled them.  They could probably be enhanced a little with a photo-editing program, but I have uploaded them just as they are.)

I also found an interesting site with old photos and postcards from the Shoshone Dam and surrounding areas.  It’s Wyoming Tales and Trails, and is worth a look if you’re into history.

Trips can be as scenic as the destination

We have often found the thought “It’s not the destination, it’s the trip” to be true when traveling.  This week, both have proven true.

In 2004, we traveled through some of the same states as we are on this trip.  However, when reaching the Dakotas, we turned north and traveled on Hwy 2 near the Canadian border.  This time, through North Dakota, we used I-94. Interstates are usually not the most scenic of drives, so we were pleasantly surprised as we traveled I-94 from Dickinson, ND, spending a night at Miles City, MT, to Wapiti, WY.

Take a look at some of the shots from the road:

A delightful find at Jamestown, ND

Back on the road, we were passing through farmlands, when we began seeing fields of sunflowers, acres and acres of golden blooms.

The grass grows so abundantly in North Dakota that even the right of ways are baled after mowing.

We stopped for the night in Jamestown at the Frontier Village Campground.  The combination office, gift shop and bar looks like it could have been located on the original Route 66.

A sign proclaimed “Feed the Buffalo Out Back – 50 cents”.  The attendant told us of a wildlife museum ‘out back’ also – ‘Free’.  With the outside temperature at 95 degrees, we decided to wait until later to explore the wonders ‘out back’.

When we did walk around after dinner, we were surprised at the work that had gone into the Wildlife Museum.  The displays were quite well done.   We then decided to venture on to the “Frontier Village” a few blocks up the street.  At 7 p.m., we knew they would not be open, but thought the walk would be good for us.  To our surprise, the Village was not only open, but was hosting a live concert. (The music turned out to be rock, and would have appealed more to our grandchildren, so we didn’t listen long before moving on into the village. The museum village was amazing and a tribute to the town’s people.  The buildings were all furnished, many of them completely open to the public with no barriers.  We were amazed that they don’t seem concerned with theft.  We spent quite a while browsing the various buildings, and wishing we had gone earlier (attendants in period costumes roam the village during daytime hours).

Also in the village is the world’s largest buffalo, standing 26 feet high and measuring 46 feet long (he was erected in 1959).  At the end of the village is the National Buffalo Museum (also closed by the time we got there).  The adjoining field and ravine houses a herd of 30 or so bison, famous for its three albinos.  A white buffalo is quite a rarity, and is considered sacred by the Native Americans.  The day was still so warm, none of the bison were roaming about, but as we sat and watched, we caught a glimpse of the largest white buffalo, White Cloud.

For a slideshow of the village, click on the photo:

For more on Jamestown, ND, CLICK HERE

Gull Lake, Minnesota… headwaters of the Mississippi

Today took us over the bay at Superior, WI into Duluth, Minnesota. 

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We were looking forward to a two night stay in a C.O.E. park at Gull Lake, located in headwaters area of the Mississippi River. 

At first glance, even though the park roads were narrow, and the sites a little difficult to maneuver, Gull Lake Campground looked like a good place to relax. 

By the time I had helped Ron park, however, my legs were stinging from the many mosquito bites.  Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance to me; I actually have an allergy to their bites, and they seem morbidly attracted to me.  Needless to say, this was not the location for a relaxing afternoon in a lawn chair.  We spent the night and moved on, disappointed that we hadn’t been able to see more of the area.

Iron River, WI

Throughout this trip, I have been delighted with the wildflowers.  They’re everywhere, along the highways, in the fields, across the grassy areas surrounding the parks.  My favorites have been the wild sweet peas.

I failed to  note the town where we passed this carving in a lakefront park. 

Early in the day’s drive, the pine forests gave way to farm fields.

By 9 a.m. yesterday, we were crossing into Wisconsin.  We were treated to more beautiful Lake Superior views.

W e stopped for the night in a small city  park at Iron River.  We had quite a surprise in store.  While walking through the park, we met someone we knew, Dorothy Thompson, who also winters in our park, Cactus Gardens, in Yuma.  I’m not sure who was the most surprised, Dorothy or us.  We talked for a while, and discovered she and husband, David, live just a short distance from the park on the lake.

A bigger surprise came this morning.  Just as we were finishing our preparations to leave, David drove up with plans to take us to their place for coffee.  When we arrived, Dorothy had fresh blueberry muffins baking in the oven.  What a treat!