The next stop on our history tour was the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody,
WY. It’s not just one museum, but five
under one roof. We turned first to the Cody Firearms Museum. For two little boys, it was like a candy
shop. They loved it. From Annie Oakley’s rifle to the Embellished
Arms Gallery. They took the time to
really look over the different displays – the mid-1800s, World War I and II
guns, and the hunting lodge with trophy game mounted on the walls.
After looking over the weapons we went to the Whitney Gallery of Western Art. In a hands-on area the kids followed
directions for sketching a lifelike portrait.
We then made our way around the gallery to look at the beautiful
paintings. The most dramatic was an
enormous painting of Custer’s Last Stand. Tired, we decided to call it a day. The tickets are good for two days and we
planned to see the other museums the next day.
We returned to the Historical Center the next morning and
started with the Plains Indian Museum, a great display full of interactive
audiovisual programs. We walked through
tepees, sat in a Plains Indian house, and experienced the Seasons of Life
gallery. From there we went to check out
the Buffalo Bill Museum with
its covered wagons and stagecoaches and posters from Buffalo Bill's Wild, Wild West. We
capped off our visit in the Draper Museum of Natural History, and it was
probably our favorite stop.
The Draper
Museum of Natural History is circular and as you wind your way through the floors
you explore the Yellowstone ecosystem by elevation. Make sure you pick up a Greater Yellowstone
Adventure Passport and locate all of the stamps in the museum. Discover the wildlife of the area, the
vegetation, and the challenges at each elevation change. We also discussed natural force like fires and
avalanches.
This, along with
the Cody Nite
Rodeo, is the main must-see in Cody. Don’t
miss it. It’s packed full of information
and there’s something for everyone. Art,
animals, firearms, ancient cultures. (Pictures in the Gallery)
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In March of 2008 our family of four (plus 1 dog) hit the road for a yearlong tour of the United States
focusing on American History. This website is our journal from start to finish. Here we have passed along how we homeschooled on the road and
specifically what we learned about American history. We've also provided some lesson plans and activity suggestions
so that you can learn too! 
We're excited to be able to partner