Buffalo Bill Center of the West Media Fact Sheet
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Physical Address:
720 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, Wyoming 82414
Phone Number:
307-587-4771
General E-mail Address:
[email protected]
The Center of the West at a glance
Connecting people to the American West
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is the premier destination to experience the authentic story of the American West. Five world-class perspectives on aspects of the West mesh to move visitors to discover and develop personal connections to that story. A research library supports exploration of these perspectives.
The Center is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. A repeat recipient of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence from several years running, the Center also frequently wins honors in True West magazine’s annual “Best of the West” awards.
The Center of the West takes visitors on an adventurous ride through the history of the American West via its 300,000 square feet of collections of artifacts, interactive displays, western art, and exhibits housed within five museums and one research library. The Center appeals to visitors of all ages and is an attraction that can be enjoyed over a few hours or a few days.
Less than a one-hour drive from Yellowstone National Park, the Center has become a memorable part of millions of family vacations and has also been named one of the “favorite museums for group travelers” by the National Tour Association.
Our five amazing museums
The Buffalo Bill Museum explores the history and myth of the American West through the private life of William F. Cody, his public persona of Buffalo Bill and the world-traveling spectacle—Buffalo Bill’s Wild West—that made him famous.
The Cody Firearms Museum examines the people and culture of the American West through the world’s most comprehensive collection of American-made firearms.
The Draper Natural History Museum illuminates the American West’s binding relationship between man and nature with a focus on the wildlife and landscapes of the Greater Yellowstone region.
The Plains Indian Museum reveals how the art, history, traditions, and contemporary lives of Plains Indian peoples helped shape the character of the American West.
The Whitney Western Art Museum depicts the tapestry of the American West through the eyes of the artists—Bierstadt, Remington, Russell, and more— who interpreted and defined it.
Our incredible research library
The McCracken Research Library advances the appreciation and understanding of the American West by preserving its archival history, supporting exploration of undiscovered resources, and making its large and significant photograph collection digitally accessible. Research by appointment.
Event & Experience Highlights
Draper Museum Raptor Experience
Thirteen live birds including golden eagle, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, turkey vulture, American kestrels, short-eared owl, saw-whet owl, Swainson’s hawk, and a raven. Daily programs and opportunities to ask question of handlers March through November; occasionally in the winter. Call 307-578-4111 for details and current schedule.
Exclusive Tours
Private, expert-led tours of any of our five museums, or a customized a tour based on your interests, with special access to artifacts not on exhibit. Call 307-254-7073 for more information.
Chuckwagon Dinners
During the months of June, July, and August, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, book a family-friendly, authentic Dutch oven dinner, cooked outdoors while you watch. Book in advance by calling 307-899-2027.
Exhibition Highlights
Fire on the Mountain: Photographs of Wildland Firefighting by Kyle Miller
John Bunker Sands Photography Gallery through July 27, 2025
“Reflections,” from Fire on the Mountain: Photographs of Wildland Firefighting by Kyle Miller (detail).
Advertising the Frontier Myth: Poster Art of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
Anne & Charles Duncan Special Exhibition Gallery through January 12, 2025
Guns of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Performers and Other Cowboy Acts
Cody Firearms Museum’s special exhibitions gallery through at least the end of 2024
Best Seats on the Grounds: Behind the Scenes of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
McCracken Research Library through spring 2025
The Center of the West's Construction History
The Buffalo Bill Museum opened as a log cabin in 1927 in downtown Cody. In 1969 it moved to a new wing of what was then-named the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, joining the Whitney Western Art Museum (opened in 1959 as the Whitney Gallery of Western Art) on the Center’s campus. The Plains Indian Museum opened in 1979, the Cody Firearms Museum in 1976 (redesigned and reinstalled in 2019), the McCracken Research Library in 1980, and the Draper Natural History Museum in 2002.
Press Inquiries:
Contact Ken Straniere, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, 307-578-4137, [email protected]
Interview Opportunities:
Center curators, staff, and local historians are also available, by appointment, to members of the media seeking to add layers of colorful commentary, facts, and stories to their editorial coverage.
» Rebecca West, Executive Director & CEO «
» Karen Brooks McWhorter, Collier-Read Director of Curatorial, Education, and Museum Services «
» Sam Hanna, Curatorial Assistant, Buffalo Bill Museum «
» Danny Michael, Robert W. Woodruff Curator, Cody Firearms Museum «
» Corey Anco, Willis McDonald IV Curator of Natural History, Draper Natural History Museum «
» Hunter Old Elk, Interim Curator, Plains Indian Museum «
» Susan Barnett, Scarlett Curator of Western American Art for the Whitney Western Art Museum «
» Susan Fletcher, Housel Director, McCracken Research Library «
» Eric Rossborough, Associate Librarian; Senior Cataloger, McCracken Research Library «
