Yellowstone was amazing, so much untamed wild land and wild life. It didnt stop in Yellowstone, the wild life remains abundant throughout Wyoming. The drive down to Cody via highway 14 aka Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. It winds through the Shoshone National Forest and along the Shoshone River through a picturesque valley.

There are signs dotting the highway reminding you that this is grizzly country and to not interfere with the wild life. In fact there is a $5000.00 fine if caught interfering with or pursuing a grizzly bear. While we were thankful and appreciative for all the wild life we were able to see we were feeling a bit dissapointed we didnt get to see a bear. However, less than five minutes after talkng about seeing a bear a black bear cub the size of a large dog bounced across the road right in front of us. We were exstatic. We pulled over in hopes to see the momma bear and watched the cub make it’s way through the brush away from the highway. He turned around and sat down by a tree and got a good look at us before dissapearing into the wilderness. We didn’t get to see the momma but oh what a treat to get to see the cub in his home territory.

As we made our way closer to Cody we stopped at the Buffalo Bill Dam.

The dam was constructed over one hundred years ago and was the tallest dam in the world at the time at 328 feet. Built in just five years, it cost just under a million dollars to construct. The dam is responsible for the water flow that not only irrigates the valley but also provides power to greater Wyoming generated from six hydro electric stations located through out the narrow passage.
It was late in the afternoon once we got to Cody and we had diminished food supplies. We had lost a refridgerator full of food on the way to Yellowstone due to the the refridgerator not staying cold on the road. A lesson learned on how to keep the refiridgerator cold while on the road straight from the wallet. We needed to replenish our supplies since we survived on mostly canned beans in Yellowstone. As mentioned in an earlier post I have never been a big fan of Walmart but since we are living the RV life they are very RV’er friendly. You can stay in their parking lot for free. Not that it’s the ideal campsite but good in a pinch and to help stretch the budget. I tried to convince the crew to stay there for the nite but since this location was not open twenty-four hours it provided no opportunity to wander the isles in the middle of the nite. With this they encouraged me to find a proper RV park.

On the east side of Cody, once you pass through the main section of town there is a clean RV park called Abskorga Bay. They offer full hookups, laundry, showers and the ever valuable Wifi. Funny though, I never saw the bay until the day we left as the small body of water was over the highway on the way out of town.
Cody really brings the old west to life. There were two primary attractions for us here, the Bufflo Bill Center of the West and the Irma Hotel. The Bufflo Bill Center of the West houses five museums under one roof with a single admission charge.

The options to choose from are the Plians Indian Museum, Buffalo Bill Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum and the Bill Cody Historical Firearms museum.
We opted for the natural history museum first which provided more information on much of the territory and animals we had recently seen. Years ago I had worked as a fabricator/installation manager for a company named Academy Studios located north of San Francisco. We designed, built and installed exhibits in Natural History Museums and Aquariums around the world. It is from this experience I have a deeper interest in the museum space.
There was a huge section on the life of Bill Cody the towns namesake, AKA Buffalo Bill. Bill Cody was hired by the US Army as a scout and to provide buffalo meat to the troops as they explored the upper northwest territory. He was an excellent hunter, communicated with several different Indian tribes through sign language and loved the outdoors.

After his years of service scouting and providing buffalo meat to the troupes he set off to share his exploits with the world. It was through live shows dubbed “The Buffalo Bill Wild West Show.” He is considered the first global celebrity as he spent thirty three years and traveled over a quarter million miles in the U.S. and Europe sharing his exploits on the stage.

A tireless self-promoter and entreprenuer he invested his earnings in everything from mining operations to a pretty young actress. Much of which he lost due to placing too much trust in the people with which he partnered. I had many times seen movies and read the occasional book spotlighting Bill Cody but it wasnt until I was able to immerse myself in his history and the history of the area that I was able to have a greater understanding and appreciation of this larger than life person.

This facility also houses the largest gun collection I have ever seen. There were muskets from all continents representing most every conflict and era. Firearms from King Henry the VIII to Theodore Roosevelt’s Winchester rifle to Wild Bill Hickocks revolvers. It was most impressive to stand in front of a musket that was used by a soldier during the founding of our country. We also witnessed a Winchester rifle that had been found leaning against a tree in the back country. It had been there for over one hundred years. The stock was so weathered it looked just like a old high altitude tree trunk.

Also housed there is a notable collection of era and territory themed paintings that are truly amazing. I felt fortunate to be able to view many of them in person. Artists such as Philip R. Goodwin, CM Russell and Carl Rungius. Google em and better yet stand in front of some of their work if you find an opportunity.

(Unfortunately I was unable to take any pictures in the Gun or Painting Wings of the museum).
On our way back to the coach we stopped by Bill Cody’s hotel, “The Irma”, named after his daughter. It’s located on the east end of the main drag. As we walked up they started a gun show with all of the northwest terrirtories favorite characters, Wyatt Earp, Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, Doc Holiday, The Sundance Kidd, Dirty Dan and a couple other outlaws.

Doc Holiday and Wyatt took a special liking to Laurel or maybe it was the other way around.