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Cody Wyoming
(East Entrance to Yellowstone Park)
Cody Wyoming, 4th of July Parade.
Cody, Wyoming
Buffalo Bill Statue located at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody Wyoming.
Cody Wyoming is one of the most wonderful western towns you'll ever visit. Located 53 miles from the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, many Yellowstone Park visitors spend time in this remarkable town to catch the spirit of the American West. Founded in 1896 by William F. Cody, known world-wide as "Buffalo Bill", this classic town of the American West provides several fantastic attractions, so if you're going through Cody Wyoming on your way to or from Yellowstone Park, you really need to check it out! If you want to truly understand and experience "The Spirit of the American West", then Cody Wyoming is the place to be.
Cody Wyoming provides it's Yellowstone Park visitors with many attractions and activities, which we will touch on below. But aside from these iconic things to do in Cody Wyoming, just hanging around its downtown is a blast. There are many fantastic shops and restaurants, and throughout the town there are plenty of hotels, motels, campgrounds and bed & breakfasts to choose from while visiting this historic western town.
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
This amazing national treasure contains five incredible museums, and this "MUST SEE" attraction is well worth the time to explore.
Founded in 1917 to preserve the amazing legacy of "Buffalo Bill" Cody, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center has grown to be one of the nations most remarkable museums.
Working together with the Smithsonian Institute, this museum complex, which is located in downtown Cody, includes the Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Cody Firearms Museum and the Draper Museum of National History.
Of the many things this museum complex accomplishes, the primary goal of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is to preserve and display "The Spirit of the American West", and we can confidently tell you that this world-class museum complex has certainly achieved this goal! So if you want to see one of the finest museums in America while vacationing in Yellowstone National Park, then you really need to visit this the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.
Cody Stampede
The Cody Stampede is one of the largest professional rodeos in the country, and is held during the Cody Fourth of July Celebration each year.
This is also a "MUST SEE" attraction in Cody Wyoming if you want to witness an authentic western rodeo with some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the nation.
There are two rodeos- one is on the night of July 3rd, and the afternoon on July 4th. In the grandstands, you will be sitting with thousands of people from all over the world who are attending their very first rodeo.... AND THEY ARE LOVING IT!
So make sure you buy a cowboy hat in downtown Cody, and check out this world class rodeo if you're in the area on the 4th of July during your Yellowstone National Park vacation. We can assure you that you will really enjoy this classic western event!
It's a thrill watching these professional riders take on these bucking broncos at the Cody Stampede Rodeo.
Cody Nite Rodeo
For those of you who want to experience the Great American West as it once was, we suggest that you take a stagecoach or ride a horse through Pleasant Valley to a genuine Outdoor Cowboy Cookout. The food is incredible, as well as the entertainment and scenery. If you want to be a cowboy for awhile, The Roosevelt Area in Yellowstone National Park is the place to do it!
This young cowgirl did a great job riding the famous bull "Hollywood" at the Cody Nite Rodeo. And by the way, this is a real live bull!
Cody Fourth of July Parade
If you want to see a classic American West 4th of July parade, then this is the one to see.
We've been to many 4th of July parades in our life, and there's none as spectacular and classic western as Cody's.
You will become immersed in the Spirit of the American West as you watch the floats, the horses, and the high school bands... it's truly a "Great American Event" that will remind you what's great about America.
And don't forget to buy a cowboy hat for everyone in the family before the parade begins... we think it might be a city ordinance!
The Cody Fourth of July Parade is one of the most famous western parades in the country.
The Irma Hotel
Named after Buffalo Bill's daughter, the Irma was built by Buffalo Bill in 1902, and is still the center of activity in downtown Cody. This charming old hotel is wonderfully preserved, and the "Spirt of the American West" is definitely alive and well in this historic old building.
The Irma Hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and is home not only classic western hotel rooms, but also a western bar and restaurant. One of the focal attractions of The Irma Hotel is the famous cherry wood back bar located in the restaurant. This huge cherry wood back bar was given to Buffalo Bill Cody by Queen Victoria! While visiting Cody Wyoming during your Yellowstone National Park vacation, make sure you explore this historic western hotel.
Buffalo Bill Dam near Cody Wyoming.
Old West Gunfight
The Old West Gunfight in front of the Irma Hotel is fun entertainment for the entire family.
Every afternoon in front of the Irma Hotel, Wyatt Earp and the gang have a gunfight for everyone to watch and enjoy.
This gunfight is really entertaining and is fun for the entire family. You'll see a host of famous gun slingers shoot it out.... Like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday... and Buffalo Bill Cody will be there too!
So if you're near Cody Wyoming during your Yellowstone Park Vacation, make sure you watch this exciting gunfight in front of the historic Irma Hotel!
Oh, and here's a tip:
remember to plug your ears when the shoot'n starts!
Old Trail Ghost Town
Located in the middle of Cody is Old Trail Ghost Town that really gives you a great idea of what things were like in the old days.
Over 25 historic old buildings of the Great American West were carefully moved to this location to not only preserve them but also for visitors to enjoy.
It's loaded with history and is another fun thing to do while spending time in Cody Wyoming during your Yellowstone Park vacation.
Buffalo Bill Dam
The historic Buffalo Bill Dam is located about 10 miles west of Cody Wyoming, and is really a treat to visit. The Buffalo Bill Dam was one of the first high concrete dams ever constructed in the United States. It's about 325 feet high and dams the great Shoshone River. There is a wonderful visitor center located at the top of the dam, and you'll get a great view of the narrow Shoshone Canyon from the top of this historic structure. The Buffalo Bill Dam is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and if you're in the area during your Yellowstone National Park vacation, we strongly recommend that you check out this famous dam.
Cody Wyoming is one of our favorite towns in America.
The atmosphere is so wonderfully western, and the activities are so much fun, that we always have a great time in Cody whenever we are in the area.
And if you want to truly get a feeling for the "Spirit of the Great American West", then Cody Wyoming is definitely the place to be.
So go buy you and your family a cowboy hat at one of the great shops in downtown Cody Wyoming, and get to the rodeo, visit the museum, explore the Irma Hotel, see the ghost town, and who knows, you might even run into Buffalo Bill Cody himself!!!
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