Introduction

Hello! My name is Danny Michael and I am the new Assistant Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. I am extremely excited to be a part of such a prestigious institution, and for the opportunity to work with the wonderful staff and the amazing collection here.

Before I accepted this position I studied for my M.A. in Public History at the University of Louisville and worked as a Curatorial Assistant at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. I also have a B.A. in history from Cedarville University and between degrees I worked with firearms records at the ATF’s National Firearm Tracing Center.

I grew up in the tiny town of Big Pool, Maryland, just across the road from Fort Frederick State Park, a stone star fort dating to the French and Indian War. My dad would take us over to the fort in the evenings and weekends. Between visiting Fort Frederick, the many nearby historic sites, and battlefields like Antietam I developed a strong interest in American History.

Along with my enjoyment of reading and learning about history I have been shooting since my middle school years. I started with a slide action .22 rifle and my interest in firearms and the history behind them has only grown since then.

At the Cody Firearms Museum I will be inventorying our collection, managing& social media, and creating content about our collection. The CFM’s collection represents an extensive history. The stories within our collection are about more than the firearms, although that is a big part. The firearms represent people that used them, the technology that enabled them, and the events that surrounded them. I am excited to share these pieces of our past with you.