Centennial of Cody Stampede Among Notable Anniversaries in Cody Yellowstone in 2019
CODY, Wyo., November 13, 2018 – When the sentimental but pragmatic leaders of Cody, Wyoming circa 1919 created the Cody Stampede, they had two goals in mind: to honor the town’s legendary founder and the Western traditions he represented, and to capture the interest and a few dollars from tourists who passed through town on the new “Road to Yellowstone.”
Though they were visionaries, they could never have imagined that the four-day annual event would become one of the “top small-town American Fourth of July celebrations in the West.”
Scheduled for Sunday, July 1 through Wednesday, July 4, the Cody Stampede marks its 100th anniversary in 2019. The celebration includes nightly Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA)-sanctioned rodeos, parades, free concerts, craft fairs, fireworks and much more. And there are sure to be a few surprises this year too.
“The Scout,” a sculpture of Buffalo Bill Cody, has greeted guests of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West since 1924.
“Enthusiasm for the centennial of the Cody Stampede is high in our little town, and rodeo cowboys, float designers and band directors are already planning how to make their marks on the occasion,” said Claudia Wade, director of the Park County Travel Council, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the east valley of Yellowstone National Park.
The centennial of the Cody Stampede is just one of several noteworthy anniversaries of events and attractions in 2019. Here are some more.
What’s new and notable at museums and attractions in Cody Yellowstone in 2019:
95th anniversary of The Scout. Heiress and hyper-talented sculptress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney created this massive bronze sculpture depicting Buffalo Bill Cody on horseback. The sculpture was installed in 1924 and ultimately became the cornerstone of the Whitney Western Art Museum.
60th anniversary of the Whitney Western Art Museum. One of five museums within the world-renowned Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Whitney Western Art Museum was created in 1959 with initial funding provided by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, the son of artist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. Considered one of the top Western art galleries in the country, the museum includes original paintings, sculptures and prints by top artists including Albert Bierstadt and Frederic Remington.
40th anniversary of the Plains Indian Museum. Added to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in 1979, the Plains Indian Museum promotes the art and traditions of Plains Indians through exhibits and innovative storytelling. The museum also sponsors the popular Plains Indian Powwow staged each June in the Robbie Powwow Garden adjacent to the museum.
Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue has been performing in Cody for 15 years.
70th anniversary of completion of the LDS Chapel Rotunda, which houses the Cody Mural depicting the westward expansion of Mormon pioneers. Painted by artist Edward T. Grigware, the realistic painting was created off-site and then installed on the domed walls, measuring 36 feet in diameter and 18 feet high from the base to the peak of the ceiling.
115th anniversary of Pahaska Tepee, Buffalo Bill’s hunting lodge. Situated a short distance from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Buffalo Bill Cody invited famous guests such as the Prince of Monaco to relax and hunt at this two-story hewn-log lodge. The lodge’s furniture and decorations have been carefully preserved, and visitors can explore the first floor for a small donation.
15th anniversary of Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue. Hailing from Nashville, singer Dan Miller and his talented Empty Saddles Band stage an hour-long dinner show in downtown Cody six nights a week during the summer.
Noteworthy events in Cody Yellowstone history:
150th anniversary of the Folsom-Cook-Peterson Expedition, the first successful expedition of Yellowstone National Park. Although the 1869 expedition was unofficial, the explorers’ reports ultimately prompted the Washburn Expedition the following year, which is largely credited with bringing Yellowstone the publicity which resulted in its establishment as the world’s first national park in 1872.
110th anniversary of the creation of Park County. Established by the Wyoming Legislature in 1909, Park County is the fifth-largest county in the state of Wyoming, encompassing 3,349,120 acres, and is the ninth most populous county, with a full-time population of around 9,500. The county is largely comprised of state and federal land.
120th anniversary of the Cody Enterprise. This twice-weekly, award-winning newspaper was founded by Buffalo Bill Cody and Col. John Peake in August 1999.
Wyoming anniversaries:
150th anniversary of Wyoming granting women the right to vote, becoming the first place in the country to legalize women’s suffrage. Wyoming, nicknamed “The Equality State,” is celebrating the 1889 anniversary with events throughout the year.
60th anniversary of the Hebgen Lake earthquake near West Yellowstone, Mont.Although the epi-center of this massive, mountain-moving quake was in Montana, its impact was broadly felt in Wyoming. The earthquake killed 28 campers and changed the geothermal plumbing systems of numerous geysers and hot springs throughout Yellowstone National Park.
100th anniversary of Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 72-vehicle cross-country road trip. The young Lt. Col. was charged with determining the state of the country’s roads across the country. The Wyoming portion of the trip, and discovery of abysmal conditions throughout the state (the convoy traveled at 5 miles per hour, on average), ultimately led to the development of the country’s Interstate road system, including I-80, which allows modern travelers to travel to Yellowstone in relative ease.
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Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park. The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world’s attention.
Related hashtags: #YellowstoneCountry #CodyWyoming #CenteroftheWest #BuffaloBill #Yellowstone #ThatsWY
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Mesereau Travel Public Relations
720-284-1512
