Yeehaw! Cody, Wyoming… Buffalo Bill and the Nez Perce -May 30 – June 2

New base of operations in Cody, Wyoming is the Absaroka Bay RV Park, $39 per night with Good Sam’s. This was a very nice park and centrally located for our day trips to the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (also known as the Nez Perce Scenic Highway), tours of the town of Cody, and the Buffalo Bill Cody Center of the West Museum. This area is rich in history and a wonderful place to visit. To see the museum in full you need about 1 and 1/2 days. So much history and artifacts, you don’t want to miss it.

When we left Idaho Park, Idaho we decided to take one last trip through Yellowstone, yes with the RV. We left early and the scenery was spectacular. We said our goodbyes and headed for Cody, Wyoming. It was a great trip and we got to Cody early enough to make a trip out to check out the town. Pictures of our travels through Yellowstone.

Elk stopping traffic
Elk stopping traffic
Elk stopping traffic

Elk in Marsh
Elk in Marsh
Bison above the Road

Yellowstone Lake & River
Yellowstone Lake & River
Sage Bison

Yellowstone Lake & River
Yellowstone Lake & River
Two Skies

Two Skies
Effects of Bacon Rind Fire 2018

We set up camp around 1 PM in Cody, Wyoming and headed into town to look around. Cody was founded on the Shoshone River in 1896 with the help of Colonel William Frederick (Buffalo Bill Cody). Cody is the county seat of Park County and has a population of about 10,000. Many of the original buildings are intact and still in use. We walked the streets and met a couple of real cowboys, with beer in hand. They were happy to give us some tips about the area and acted like our long lost friends. I truly enjoyed the town and the area.

We stopped by the Buffalo Bill Cody Center of the West, which has five different museums under one roof and is a world class center. Draper Natural History Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum and the Buffalo Bill Museum make up the Center. I found it fascinating, but did not enjoy the Firearms exhibits because visitors were firing guns at stations and that unnerved me a bit. When we bought our tickets we worked out a deal to come back a day later to finish the museums as we planned to take the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway the next day and didn’t want to spend two consecutive days inside. The staff granted the the exception and were very easy to work with. Two thumbs up. I should also mention that the Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate.

Mr. Cody Himself
Plains Indian Tipi Interior
Lizard Amulet for Cradleboard/holds child’s Umbilical cord for protection

Plains Indian Tipi
Native American Sculpture

Cody’s Childhood Home

Crazy Horse
Sacagawea /Guide for Lewis & Clark

Peregrine Falcon-Raptor Center
Bald Eagle-Raptor Center
Peregrine Falcon-Raptor Center

Turkey Vulture-Raptor Center
Turkey Vulture-Raptor Center
Great Horned Owl-Raptor Center

The Irma Built and Named For Cody’s Daughter
Original Irma Dining room
Cod Fillet with Irma Fries

The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is also known as the Nez Perce Scenic Highway. It is the trail that Chief Joseph and his tribe followed trying to escape the US Calvary to a safe life in Canada. They were just a few miles short of the border when they were captured and forced on to a reservation. The trail is now Wyoming Highway 296 and is approximately 50 miles of beautiful territory. The beauty belies the desperation that the Nez Perce must have felt fleeing for their lives and their way of life.