Institutional Facts
The Five Museums of Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Mission Statement
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is a museum that educates
the public by advancing knowledge about the American West through acquiring,
preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting collections. |
Founded in 1917 to preserve the legacy and vision of Col. William F. Cody,
the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is the oldest and most comprehensive
museum of the West.
- William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917) was the most widely known American
of his time.
- Buffalo Bill founded Cody, Wyoming, which is located 50 miles east of
Yellowstone National Park.
- Buffalo Bill saw the potential for tourism in the West and in the
Yellowstone region.
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center has extensive artifact collections housed in a
world-class facility.
The Historical Center has grown from a log cabin in 1927 to a 7-acre building valued at
$143 million today.
The Center's collections contain over 34,977 artifacts, 20,000 books,
and 260,000 photo archives.
The Center has five separate museums and a research library.
- Whitney Gallery of Western Art - established 1958, dedicated 1959
- Buffalo Bill Museum - established 1927, dedicated in present location 1969
- Plains Indian Museum - originally established 1969, dedicated in own building 1979, reinterpreted 2000
- Harold McCracken Research Library - dedicated 1980
- Cody Firearms Museum - dedicated 1976 as Winchester Museum, rededicated 1991
- Draper Museum of Natural History - dedicated 2002
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is a member of the Museums
West Consortium.
Seasonal visitation to the area (June-September) comprises 90 percent
of the Center's attendance.
The Center has an annual operating budget of $7.9 million, with a local
economic impact of $35.5 million.
Annual Operating Budget Sources
- 250,000 visitors-$2.2 million
- Retail store sales and café-$2.4 million
- Interest from Endowment-$2 million
- Fundraising-$1.3 million
A permanent endowment, currently at $49 million
The Center is a nationally recognized cultural and educational treasure.
- Over 25,000 educational participants a year
- Annual offerings include classes, seminars, and symposia
- School visitations and outreach programs
- Exhibitions and publications
Staff and Volunteers
- 90 full-time and 100 part-time and seasonal staff
- 200 volunteers donating over 10,000 hours annually
Board of Trustees and Advisory Boards
- Alan K. Simpson, (former Wyoming U.S. Senator)
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
- Board of Trustees - 41 members meeting three times a year,
twice locally
- Executive Committee meeting four times a year
- Advisory boards: Fifteen-member boards for each museum and the
library-comprised of academics, collectors, and donors
Statistics
- Visitation: 250,000 annually
- Building Size: 300,000+ square feet
- Community: 9000 population
Operating Hours
- June through September 15: 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. (daily)
- September 16 through October: 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. (daily)
- November through March: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. (Tuesday - Sunday)
- April: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m (daily)
- May: 8 a.m..- 8 p.m. (daily)
Admission
Pass is good for two consecutive days
- Adult - $15
- Seniors (65+) - $13
- Student (18 & over with valid student ID) - $6
- Youth (6-17) - $4
- Ages 5 & under - Free
Group Visitor Rates - by Request
Please contact Andrea Brew.
Annual Events
All events are subject to change. Please make inquiry.
- Cowboy Songs & Range Ballads
- Larom Summer Institute
- Plains Indian Museum Powwow
- Plains Indian Museum Seminar
- Patrons Ball
- Annual Featured Special Exhibition
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