Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country The Northwest region of Wyoming offers visitors a reflection of life in the Old West. It has a thriving cowboy culture, Native American history and spectacular landscapes which both challenged the rugged fortitude of early settlers and inspired the formation of the National Park Service. This is one of the most traveled regions in the state and Cody is at its center.

Cody was founded by its namesake, William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody who, with several friends, arrived here for the specific purpose of developing the land to build a community. The consummate entrepreneur and promoter, he used his influence to persuade the federal government and the Burlington Railroad to invest in the area’s resources and provide access routes to the national parklands, all which directly assured the vitality of his town. He lived his final 22 years in the area, leaving a lasting spirit that continues to be celebrated in historic sights, monuments, events and the community’s spirit of western hospitality.

Many attractions in Cody offer insights to the natural and cultural history of the area. Here are a few examples. Cody Trolley Tours offers visitors an informative and entertaining overview of city sights, history, and lore. The one-hour tour travels 22 miles and covers 100 years of history. Each trolley has two guides offering an ongoing banter about local personalities, past and present, and share with visitors their collection of historic photos, artifacts and memorabilia.

Tecumseh’s Old West Village offers visitors a variety of experiences. Its Trading Post has a large selection of goods including its signature handcrafted leather garments that are fashioned in traditional old west and Native American styles. The Native American collections include pottery and ceremonial items of the Plains Indians and wool goods (blankets and jackets) made in the Hudson- Bay style. The Old West Miniature Village and Museum traces the history of Wyoming and Montana from the 1600s to the late 1890s. Dioramas and other displays have Western and Native American artifacts, wildlife mounts, guns and fur trader memorabilia.

In the northwest corner of the state, Yellowstone National Park boasts geysers and hot springs as well as many geothermal features. Old Faithful Geyser draws millions of visitors each year. The park is also home to free ranging animals such as buffalo and elk and is home to grizzly bears and wolves. On the other side of the state, in the Black Hills in the northeast corner, a towering rock formation called Devil’s Tower draws visitors by the millions each year as well as members of several Native American tribes who return to the area for annual rituals. It came under the National Park Service in 1916. Mountain climbers began their quest for the top in the 1930’s with records of climbs kept since 1937.

The state capital of Cheyenne is located in the southeast corner of the state just off Interstate 80 with I-25 running north and south near the capital. Wyoming is an arid state receiving only about ten inches of rainfall each year. It is unique in that no water from any source in the state makes it to either ocean. The water from rain either evaporates or is absorbed into the ground. It is not a farm-friendly environment yet many ranches are established near the mountain ranges on all four sides of the state. The ski areas in the northwestern part of the state does enjoy significant show fall with precipitation often approaching 200 inches a year in the mountainous region of the Teton Range. In order to enjoy some of the best snow skiing in the country you will have to get off the beaten path, read that interstate highways, as I-80, I-90 and I-25 carry you mostly through the eastern and southern part of the state, the mountains of the Grand Teton National Park is located in the northwest part of the state and have some of the highest peaks leading into the Rocky Mountains.