Best Spots to Explore History in Cody Yellowstone

Cody Yellowstone has Wild roots, and exploring them feels more like an adventure than a history lesson. This is where the Wild West lives on—one minute you’re walking the same dirt roads as Buffalo Bill, and the next you’re time-traveling through museums packed with tales of outlaws, sharpshooters, and frontier legends. A full-on Western adventure, Cody Yellowstone has deep roots and a little cowboy charm that’s sure to rope you in for a trip you’ll never forget. Let us guide you on a historical exploration through time with these can’t-miss activities.

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Put yourself in the boots of the cowboys and cowgirls of the old West, and travel through time at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Luckily, your admission ticket is good for two days, because you’ll want to come back for more! With five different museums to explore—the Buffalo Bill Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, and the Cody Firearms Museum—you’ll become an expert in all things “Old West”. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West isn’t just for history buffs. Check out the Live Raptor Experience at the Draper Museum for a powerful birds of prey presentation where you’ll learn more about the dinosaurs of the sky. Okay, they’re not actually considered dinosaurs, but seeing eagles, falcons, and more up close is an incredible experience you won’t want to miss.

Old Trail Town and Museum of the Old West

What would you say if we told you we could take you back to the 1890s without using a time machine? Let us do just that! Visit the Old Trail Town and Museum of the West and stroll the streets of the original Cody Townsite. Explore 28 authentic frontier buildings and discover the hundreds of artifacts from the Old West preserved in the museum. As you wander through Old Trail Town, you’ll find grave sites with notable Western figures, including the mountain man himself, Jeremiah Johnston. Before you mosey on out of town, don’t miss Butch Cassidy’s Hole in the Wall Cabin and Rose William’s Roadhouse.

Meteetse Museum

Explore local history at the Meteetse Museum. Meeteetse is a small area located within Park County that’s packed with stories from the past. Holding the most extensive collection of photos by famous western photographer Charles Belden, the museum is also home to unique exhibits on the endangered black-footed ferrets, the grizzlies Little Wahb and Big Joe, and several historical artefacts. There are even organized tours that allow you to explore the Legend Rock State Archaeological Site, the historic Double Dee Guest Ranch, Pitchfork Ranch, and Kirwin Ghost Town. 

Cody Dug Up Gun Museum

Picture yourself in the dusty streets of an Old West town, slow-motion turning around to see your enemy ready to draw their pistols for the ultimate cowboy showdown—this is the type of daydream you can expect to have when you visit the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum. Come and admire the remarkable display of relic guns that have been dug up from a variety of different time periods. From the Gold Rush era to the US Civil War, the Old West and Indian Wars, World War I and II, and the Roaring Twenties. Strolling through the museum will trigger a blast from the past and will be fun for the whole family.

Heart Mountain Interpretive Center

Deepen your understanding of a significant moment in history by visiting the Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center. The center is a world-class museum that preserves what’s left of the WWII Japanese American confinement site and was opened in 2011 by the  Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation. The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center is dedicated to educating future generations on the stories of more than 14,000 people unjustly incarcerated at the confinement site. Be sure to add this to your trip itinerary and gain a deeper understanding and respect for the events that transpired here.

Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center

Did you know that at its completion in 1910, the Buffalo Bill Dam was the tallest dam in the world? Standing a whopping 325 feet high, the dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Civil Engineering Landmark. Your trip to Cody Yellowstone isn’t complete without exploring the interpretive areas to learn about how the dam benefits the Big Horn Basin area—plus the Buffalo Bill Dam is only six miles west of Cody on the road to Yellowstone, and offers breathtaking views you won’t want to miss. 

Smith Mansion

We wonder what the neighbors thought when Francis Lee Smith (Lee) was constructing a 75-foot, multi-level log cabin for over 20 years. The Smith Mansion is an out-of-place structure, to say the least. Even referred to as The Crazy House by some, the house is easy to spot sitting perched on top of a hill in the Wapiti Valley. Although you can’t get up close to the Smith Mansion, you can take photos from the road while driving toward the East Gate of Yellowstone this summer. Certainly an interesting piece of history, Smith, his wife, and their two children actually lived in the home all the way up to 1992, without electricity! As fate would have it, on a blustery day in April, Lee Smith fell to his death while working on the towering log home.

Historic Cody Mural & Museum

While spending an afternoon exploring downtown Cody, you’ll want to set time aside for the Historic Cody Mural & Museum. Completed in 1951, the mural is beautifully painted on a stunning rotunda ceiling, depicting scenes from the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Come witness the awe-inspiring artistry of Edward T. Grigware—painting the mural to tell stories of the contributions and challenges of pioneers who settled the Big Horn Basin from 1900 to 1910. If you can pull your gaze away from Grigware’s masterpiece, you can make your way through the museum, where you’ll learn about the enlightening history of Mormon pioneers and get to observe many artifacts over 100 years old. Did we mention this is a completely free tour? 

Travelstorys

Let the stories of the Old West be your guide in your very own self-guided audio tour. Spend 45 minutes strolling through historic downtown as you’re swept away in the story of how the legend himself, Buffalo Bill, founded the town of Cody. Along the way, you’ll hear riveting tales of the pioneers and outlaws who helped shape the Western frontier. With GPS-triggered narration, the TravelStorys app brings each stop to life—so all you have to do is walk, listen, and let the spirit of the Wild West unfold around you. 

Cody Yellowstone is a place where the past and the present ride side by side, and each stop along the way serves up a one-of-a-kind Wild West experience. Find out how you can explore our rich Cody Yellowstone history by requesting a free copy of our 2025 Vacation Guide. So, dust off your boots, bring your curiosity along with you, and get ready for unforgettable moments in the heart of the West.