Lectures and Films

Explore the American West through our lectures, presentations, and videos. Take a look at what’s coming up, and click a video to watch past programs posted here.

Lectures

Our lectures cover western American subjects including art, wildlife, natural science, Plains Indian history and culture, firearms, and the Greater Yellowstone region.

Bestselling novelist Craig Johnson book signing

May 31, 1:30 p.m.

Four days before the official release of his latest Walt Longmire Mystery novel, bestselling author Craig Johnson visits the Buffalo Bill Center of the West to talk about the series and sign advance copies of this ninth installment, The Serpent’s Tooth. Johnson’s public program takes place in the Coe Auditorium May 31, 1:30 p.m. and is included with regular paid admission. The book signing follows at 3:30 p.m. at the Museum Store, which will have copies of the book for sale.

Set in a fictional but vividly realistic Wyoming locale, the series follows Sheriff Walt Longmire and his cohorts-longtime friend Henry Standing Bear and Undersheriff Victoria Moretti-as they investigate crimes and incidents large and small. Johnson’s absorbing and complex plots blend the intricacies of Longmire’s work as a law enforcement officer with the personal aspects of his life.

Johnson’s novels have attracted critical acclaim and numerous awards, and this series has inspired the hit A&E television series Longmire, which begins its second season May 27.

Living with American Indian Art talk and book signing

June 14, 1:30 p.m.

Learn about an extraordinary private collection of American Indian art from Alan J. Hirschfield. The collector, philanthropist, and former entertainment industry executive discusses and answers questions about the Hirschfield Collection at a free event Friday, June 14, at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Purchase a copy of his book, Living with American Indian Art: The Hirschfield Collection, at the Center’s Museum Store, where Hirschfield will sign copies from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Draper Museum of Natural History Lunchtime Expeditions

Join us the first Thursday of each month (February – December) for our Draper Museum of Natural History Lunchtime Expeditions! These free lectures explore a variety of natural history subjects and issues. Lectures take place in our Coe Auditorium at 12:15 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

Upcoming Lunchtime Expeditions:

• June 6: Chris Madson with Apart or A Part: Man’s Place in the Natural World
• July 11: Carlos Martinez del Rio with Biodiversity in Wyoming (on the 2nd Thursday due to Independence Day holiday)
  
• August 1: Dan Thompson with Cougar Ecology in Wyoming
• September 5: Colleen Curry with Tracking Science with Collections
• October 3: Sue Consolo-Murphy with Grizzly Bears and People
• November 7: Tom Easterly with Greater Sage-Grouse
• December 5: Jeremy Johnston with Ernest Thompson-Seton and the Nature Faker Controversy

Films

Are you interested in learning more about some of the subjects we delve into here at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center? Here is a selection of full-length videos of several presentations that have taken place here at the Center over the past couple years.

Click each video’s image to play

Spirited Discussions (extended) with Louis Warren

Discussion with John Rumm (2012)

William F. Cody and the Commemoration of Little Bighorn

Presentation by Chris Dixon (2012)

Whitebark Pine Ecology: Management of an Ecosystem in Decline

Presentation by Dan Reinhart (2012)

Let’s Talk Yellowstone to Yukon

Presentation by Harvey Locke (2011)

Whispers in the Rock: Stories from Northwestern Wyoming Strata

Presentation by Gretchen L. Hurley, BLM Cody Field Office (2012)

Atlas of Yellowstone

Presentation by Andrew Marcus, Jim Meacham, and Ann Rodman (2012)

New Views of Yellowstone’s Thermal Features

Presentation by Cheryl Jawarowski, Geologist for Yellowstone National Park (2012)

The Wolves of Yellowstone: The First 15 Years, 1995 – 2010

Presentation by Doug Smith, Biologist for Yellowstone National Park (2012)