Yankee-Mania: The Wild West Invades London

A Transatlantic Debut

With much fanfare and “Yankee-mania,” Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show debuted in London, England on May 9, 1887, as part of the American Exhibition, a cultural highlight coinciding with Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebration. Blending historical reenactment with live depictions of frontier life, the show brought American ingenuity, adventure, and the legends of the West to a British audience captivated by the mysteries of the Frontier. William F. Cody arrived on England’s shores having a reputation as a legendary American frontiersman and showman, so the London debut of his show marked a diplomatic and cultural moment that globalized the American West. British willingness to host such an event reflected the growing cultural changes happening within the British Empire at its zenith; the Victorian Age—a period of relative political stability, peace, and cultural assurance—would come to an end a mere four years later upon the death of Queen Victoria. Fascinated with the exotic and untamed, Brits of the Victorian Age craved stories of the American West, and found just the person to satisfy those cravings in Buffalo Bill.

The American Exhibition of 1887

The American Exhibition of 1887 in London, a privately funded project, vaunted American industrial and cultural achievements—promoting American products, inventions, and achievements to a British audience at Earls Court. John Gilbert Speed, the Secretary of the Exhibition, told a reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer, “We want the Old World to see us as we were in the beginning, to see what stages we have passed through, and finally to witness our achievements in the arts and manufactures. An American who is not a dude cannot fail to feel proud after visiting the American Exhibition which opens in London the second of next May.”

The Exhibition included engineering displays, technological innovations, and cultural performances, providing spectators with a bold impression of life in the United States. Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, the centerpiece of the Exhibition, quickly became a cultural sensation and largely shaped European ideas about the American West. Leading up to the Show, the London Times reported that, “Its great object is to illustrate the wild life of the Western frontier—its Indians and cowboys, its buffalo-hunting and cattle-ranches, its pioneering and its horsemanship, its dangers and its joys.” As the heart of the Exhibition, the Show attracted spectators for its displays of horsemanship, athleticism, marksmanship, and cultural variety. In particular, Brits had a fascination with and curiosity for Native Americans in the show, among them mostly Sioux, along with some Pawnee, and Cheyenne performers.

Arrival at Gravesend

After a fourteen-day voyage across the Atlantic on a ship named the State of Nebraska, the Wild West Show performers and animals arrived at Gravesend, an outer gateway to the Port of London and familiar departure point for British emigrants heading to America. Native Americans made up about one hundred of the show’s almost three hundred performers, and British papers described them as “reserved and dignified.” The arrival attracted newspapers and onlookers at Gravesend, which emphasized the fervor and novelty surrounding the Show. The scale of the troupe’s performers, animals, and equipment contributed to the excitement as well.

Royal Preview

On May 5, four days before the public opening of the Exhibition, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Household, and the Crown Prince of Denmark enjoyed a private screening of the Show that lasted 90 minutes, marking the first complete performance of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show on British soil. The London Daily News reported that “the Royal party took up their position on the grand stand to witness a special performance of the Wild West Show, the cowboy band playing ‘God save the Queen’ as they arrived.” Historical records report that the Prince of Wales shared his cigarettes with Red Shirt and found the shooting skills of Annie Oakley and Lilian Smith remarkable, congratulating them on their performance. This private performance lent credibility to the show’s reputation and punctuated its allure for a wide-ranging audience—royalty and proletariat alike. After the performance Cody recorded his thoughts in writing: “The Indians, yelling like fiends, galloped out from their ambuscades and swept around the enclosure like a whirlwind.” The public opening of the Exhibition on May 9 saw an estimated 28,000 spectators at the Wild West Show—folks willing to part with one guinea (about $5 US dollars) to witness frontier life first-hand. Ticket sales reflected a genuine curiosity about American life and an enthusiasm for the Wild West most folks had only read about up until that point.

Queen Victoria Attends

Days later, Her Majesty the Queen made a rare appearance, visiting the American Exhibition and sitting for a private viewing of the Wild West Show. Traditionally, players performed wherever the Queen lodged—Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle—which made her appearance at the Exhibition all the more meaningful. Historical records note that as the American flag, carried by a horseman from the show, traveled past the Royal Box, “Her Majesty arose, bowed deeply and impressively to the banner, and the entire court party came up standing, the noblemen uncovered, the ladies bowed and the soldiers, generals and all, saluted.” A defining moment in the story of the Wild West Show. The London Times of May 12 reported that after the performance, Buffalo Bill made acquaintance with the Queen who “expressed herself as greatly pleased” and went on to tell him that “she only regretted that her time was so limited and she would like to come again.” The Queen also met some of the performers including Red Shirt and Annie Oakley, whom the Queen called “a very clever little girl.” Her Majesty, so impressed with the Show, arranged performances for other European royals. On June 20, Buffalo Bill and his troupe gave a command performance for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee guests which included the future Kaiser Wilhelm II and King George V. Victoria’s personal endorsement enhanced the show’s credibility and allure for Europe’s aristocracy, greatly pleasing Buffalo Bill.

Lasting Impact

The American Exhibition lasted six months, and upon its closing the Wild West Show continued on tour for several weeks, visiting Birmingham and then Manchester in the winter months, where officials built an indoor arena for the Show. This long run proved the Show’s enduring popularity among the British people and their fascination with the American West. This cultural milestone bridged continents, nations, and cultures while simultaneously establishing Buffalo Bill as a global and cultural icon. In doing so, the Wild West Show not only entertained but also reshaped how the world imagined America.