Firearm Museum Blew Ed Away

William Frederick Cody (1846 – 1917) was an American soldier, skilled Indian scout, trapper, buffalo hunter and showman. A writer who met him in 1869 wrote Western stories that helped create "Buffalo Bill" and made him the hero in several of his novels.

We visited the Buffalo Bill Historical Center here in Cody. We knew the tickets were good for two days but I couldn't imagine not covering the place in one day.

The museum is actually five museums in one: Buffalo Bill, the Plains Indians, Natural History, Western art, and Firearms. Everything in there is first class and state of the art. It appears that no expense has been spared.

In the Western Art Gallery we listened to a talk about Thomas Moran and his paintings of Yellowstone. This painting is on loan from the Smithsonian in D.C.

In Ed's words, "The Cody Firearms Museum is mind-boggling in that every firearm ever manufactured by any company in the world is represented." It is is the largest collection of American firearms in the world.

Ed spent time in the firearms section both days and still didn't see it all!

The Winchester Collection, the heart of this museum, was transported from New Haven, Connecticut to Cody in 1976.

He couldn't get over the size of the Remington Gun Company that was in New Haven, Connecticut in the earl 1930's.

Mary did her best to grin and bear it.