Whoop It Up! Special Exhibition

Past Exhibition

June 7, 2019 – January 5, 2021

Whoop it Up! Celebrating 100 Years of the Cody Stampede told the story of the Cody Stampede, a highly successful, multi-day rodeo event held every year since 1919, except during World War II. The special exhibition featured vintage photographs, artwork, artifacts, film footage–and not a few surprises. It interpreted the Stampede in the context of its precursor, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, with its heroic portrait of the American cowboy taming wild broncs. It connected as well to the diverse cast of lady riders, cowgirls, trick riders and ropers, and bold equestrianism that made the Wild West a template for western rodeos throughout America.

To tell this full, colorful story, the Center of the West partnered with the Cody Stampede Board and the local community. The exhibition featured rodeo legends Nick Knight, Mel Stonehouse, and “Cody Bill” Smith, among the many star performers who have passed through Cody on their way up the ladder of fame.

Whoop It Up! opened Friday, June 7, 2019, in the Center’s Anne and Charles Duncan Special Exhibition Gallery, and closed January 5, 2021.

Sponsors and Business Partners

We would like to thank the following sponsors and business partners whose contributions made the Whoop It Up exhibition possible.

Hall of Fame

• Yellowstone National Park Lodges—Xanterra
• Wells Fargo
• The Scarlett Family Foundation in Loving Memory of C.E. “Bud” and Lucille Webster

All Around Champion

• Paul & Judy Cali
• Ed & Nancy Webster

Ring of Honor

• Coca-Cola Bottling Company High Country
• Cody Enterprise
• Level Four Wealth Management
• Western Real Estate of Wyoming
• Best Westerns—Cody
• W. Lawrence & Susan K. Patrick
• 307 Real Estate LLC
• Gail Construction LLC
• Wyoming Legacy Meats & The Meatery

Rodeo Fan

• Roy & Caryl Cline
• Groathouse Construction Inc.
• Whitlock Motors
• Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Brokerage West
• The Irma
• Sunrise Motor Inn
• Wayne’s Boot Shop