Buffalo Bill Historical Center
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by Julianne Couch
Yellowstone National Park is not the only destination in mountain country that demands and deserves a long, leisurely look-see. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody is a four-museum complex that sells tickets in the form of two-day passes. When you stop at the premiere western museum in the United States, you9ll quickly understand why.
Entering the front door of the complex you9ll see the Orientation Gallery. This area itself can coax visitors to linger for hours as it interprets the various themes found throughout the center. The nature of history, the cultural traditions and heritage of Native Americans, the artist9s creative process, and the role of women in the west are themes that can be traced throughout the center9s separate museums. But pace yourself as you explore this gallery; much more is displayed within the 237,000-square-foot complex.
Your first major gallery in the tour is the Whitney Gallery of Western Art.
Here, muse-um curators present an outstanding collection of masterworks of the American West. Original paintings, sculptures, and prints visually depict artistic interpretations of the West from the early 19th century to modern times. Highlight9s include documentary art by George Catlin and Alfred Jacob Miller, landscapes by Alfred Bierstadt and Thomas Moran, the classic West of Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, illustrations by N.C. Wyeth and W.H.D. Koerner and contemporary works by James Bama, Harry Jackson, and Fritz Scholder. Special features include the Frederic Remington Studio, W.H.D. Koerner Studio, and the Joseph Henry Sharp Cabin.
The next stop in your tour is the Cody Firearms Museum. Even if you are not a gun aficionado, you9ll be amazed by the vast collection of American and European arms, the latter dating back to the 16th century. The nearly 4,000 firearms document the influences of firearms on the settlement of the United States. Many of the firearms can be considered works of art, with their intricate and beautifully carved and engraved designs.
After a brief respite in the well-appointed dining room or a shopping stop in the gift store, continue on to the Buffalo Bill Museum. This gallery is dedicated to the life and far-reaching influence of one of America9s premiere mountain man entertainers, after whom the town of Cody was named.
The museum examines both the personal and public lives of the man and seeks to interpret his story in the context of history and myth of the American West.
Finally your tour will lead to the newly reinterpreted Plains Indian Museum. Reopening in June after extensive renovation, this gallery tells the important story of the lives of the Plains Indian people, their cultures, traditions, values, and histories as well as the context of their lives today. In addition to presenting objects made by Indian people, the stories of the people behind the objects and the reasons why the objects were made and used in daily ceremonial life are presented. Interactive computers, experiential exhibitions, and programs are featured. Native languages and songs are integrated within the exhibitions and audiovisual programs and contemporary voices guide the presentations.
Here are some of the themes and gallery installations:
People of the Plains - an introduction to the diverse Plains people.
Wisdom of the Elders - within a reconstructed Hidatsa lodge, an audiovisual program on 11 screens addresses spirituality and beliefs about tribal origins and sacred sites.
Land of Many Gifts - focuses on the creative use of resources available on the Plains.
Buffalo and The People - emphasizes the economic and spiritual uses of the buffalo.
Seasons of Life - shows economic and ceremonial activities taking place throughout a typical year in the life of the Pikuni or Blackfeet people of the 1870s.
Honor and Celebration - interprets ceremonial aspects of Plains Indian life, including rites of passage and leadership roles.
Encounters - describes the forces that threatened the physical and cultural survival of Plains Indian people, including depopulation through disease and destruction of buffalo and other economic resources.
Adversity and Renewal - emphasizes the endurance and survival of the Plainspeople and renewal of traditions and community life.
According to Emma Hansen, curator of the Plains Indian Museum, 3This momentous Plains Indian Museum reinterpretation positions the Buffalo Bill Historical Center as one of the leaders in the museum field in educating about Indian art and cultures. It also provides an important venue for residents of the region, including families and school groups, to recognize the cultural achievements of the Native people of the Great Plains.
Now you've completed your tour of the facility and perhaps are ready to head for a few days in Yellowstone National Park. Even in the park you can visit an exhibition created by the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. The two organizations have collaborated to present a special natural history exhibition at the Canyon Visitors Center focusing on the park9s buffalo herd. This herd is the last free-roaming group of wild bison in North America.
Life-sized taxidermy, photographs, and replicas of art and other museum objects help to tell their story.
Many special exhibits and programs take place during the summer; you can contact the center for information. Summer hours are 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.
Hours vary in the other seasons. Admission for two consecutive days is $10 for adults, $6 for students over age 18 with a valid student ID, and $4 for children. Kids ages 5 and under are admitted for free. You can contact the museum by calling (307) 587-4771.
Julianne Couch is a freelance writer living in Laramie, Wyoming. From there she travels the state writing about its people and its lesser-known places.
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