Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Hours: Mar 1–Apr 30: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily May 1–Sep 15: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. daily. Sep 16–Oct 31: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Nov 1–30: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Dec 1–Feb 28: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday–Sunday. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s days. Since 1927, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West has been committed to the greatness and growth of the American West, keeping western experiences alive. The Center of the West, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, weaves the varied threads of the western experience-history and myth, art and Native culture, firearms, and the nature and science of Yellowstone-into the rich panorama that is the American West. The Center of the West has been honored with numerous awards, including TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence for four years running.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
4,676 reviews
Excellent
4,038
Very good
529
Average
88
Poor
7
Terrible
15
david m
Chubbuck, ID445 contributions
Jul 2020
The museum was awesome. It was very gigantic so having a two days to see all the exhibits is highly recommended because it was indeed gigantic. We enjoyed seeing the animals, dinosaurs, and even the history of Buffalo Bill was very curious. We do recommend going because adults only pay and children i believe younger than twelve years old doesn't pay.
Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CRB
Cody, WY132 contributions
Jun 2021
BBCW is a nationally-recognized museum (exchanges things with the Smithsonian) and is actually 5 musuems: Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, Natural History, Plains Indian, Firearms, and Whitney Gallery of Western Art. If you read the informational cards scattered around the exhibits, you could spend several days here. I would recommend that--too much of any museum at once burns out the brain. There are a number of other things to see and do in Cody; try half a day at the museum and the rest of the day elsewhere.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TwinTourists
San Fernando, CA3,347 contributions
Jul 2021
This museum is absolutely fabulous. If you have the time, it takes a couple of days to see. We visited two different days. Because we are members of The Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles, we share reciprocal membership so our entrance was free.
There are many different galleries to see with all kind of artwork and objects it’s hard to write about all of them. There’s one on the life of Buffalo Bill, a fabulous gallery on the Plains Indian, a firearms gallery, Natural History gallery, and a Western Art gallery.
There’s a little cafeteria to grab a bite to eat and a couple of gift shops.
Make this a definite must see when in Cody.
There are many different galleries to see with all kind of artwork and objects it’s hard to write about all of them. There’s one on the life of Buffalo Bill, a fabulous gallery on the Plains Indian, a firearms gallery, Natural History gallery, and a Western Art gallery.
There’s a little cafeteria to grab a bite to eat and a couple of gift shops.
Make this a definite must see when in Cody.
Written June 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
revG777
Wausau, WI292 contributions
Jun 2022
At first it may seem a little pricey, but when you realize it is actually five fantastic museums under one roof, it then turns out to be quite the bargain. I personally liked the Buffalo Bill museum the best. My wife ranked the natural history museum as the best. We spent five hours there and didn't even see the Firearms museum.
Written June 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregg D
50 contributions
Jul 2022
TheBuffalo Bill Center of the West is a MUST SEE! There are five museums under one roof including a natural history museum, a Plains Indians museum, a fine art museum, a Buffalo Bill Cody museum, and a gun museum. Each of them is fantastic. The exhibits are well designed and lighted and truly show off the work on display. There is a thoughtful and natural flow to the design that leads to a cohesiveness that is sometimes missing in other museums. I cannot imagine a trip to Cody that does not include a stop here. The ticket price includes all five museums and is good for two days.
Written July 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WasatchRebel
Kearns, UT64 contributions
Oct 2021
I think this is a must see in Cody. There are five museums in one, and when you pay, you get a two-day pass and frankly, you will need it unless you can stand on your feet for at least half a day. I was pushing my wife around in a wheelchair and that got tiring. We saw the natural history museum, Buffalo Bill, and western art museums the first day. I went back alone the second day and viewed the guns, but not all of them. This collection is so extensive that they actually have pull out glass cases and drawers with extra guns in them that won't fit in the visible displays. I wish I could've made it to the Plains Indian museum as well, but ran out of time.
Written October 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah M
28 contributions
Jun 2021
It's the best museum ever, and your admission gets you in and out as much as you want for two days. You might need it. Kids loved the interactivity of the Draper nature museum. Buffalo Bill is always a hit. My favorite is always the Plains Indians museum. There is so much to see and learn. My husband's favorite is the Whitney art museum - he loves the variety of artwork. We also enjoyed a raptor program while we were there. We wanted to try the escape room, but it wasn't ready yet. It's a must-stop for us every time we're in Cody. I recommend it to everyone that I hear is traveling to Wyoming, because it is worth going out of your way for. I recommend breaking it up so you don't get sensory overload. We did the Draper and Buffalo Bill in the morning, left for lunch, and came back for the Plains Indians and Whitney art. We didn't have time for the firearms this time around. I would have loved to have a couple hours the next day.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike M
Virginia Beach, VA572 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
It isn’t possible for me to say enough good things about this museum, actually several world class museums under one roof. One could spend a day in each and still want to come back for more. I particularly enjoyed the Plains Indians museum and wish I had stayed an extra day to tour it in more detail. The firearms museum has to be the best of its ilk in all the country, if not the world. The Whitney Museum of Western Art is fantastic. The museum store is well stocked and definitely worth some visiting time. This is world class and a destination all its own. A must visit when in the Cody area.
Written May 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tommy599
Two Rivers, WI827 contributions
Sep 2020
This Buffalo Bill Center is what other visitors to Cody had bragged up as a must see in the town. Those tales of multiple museums gave Tom the impression they were in separate locations --- Not true as they are all located under one structure.
Entrance for the two day ticket to the enclosed five different museums (again all under one roof) was $17.59 PP.
Today we spent a good two hours in the Draper Museum of Natural History. The Draper was neat as it depicts the natural history of the region with interpretive exhibits of flora and fauna. We experienced a simulation of descent in elevation from the alpine environment of bighorn sheep and mountain goats through the forest, meadows, and down to the plains and basins, currently and over the centuries. Cannot convey how well they presented this production!!!!!! =Really GREAT.
Day #2
Back to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West to take in the other four museums of Buffalo Bill / Western Art / Plains Indian Museum / Cody Firearms Museum.
Each museum was a treasure, but Tom realllllly liked the Firearms Museum as it is the largest collection of American Firearms in the world (over 10,000 individual DIFFERENT guns). Yvonne’s opinion is that after you see 100 guns, you’ve seen them all!
Entrance for the two day ticket to the enclosed five different museums (again all under one roof) was $17.59 PP.
Today we spent a good two hours in the Draper Museum of Natural History. The Draper was neat as it depicts the natural history of the region with interpretive exhibits of flora and fauna. We experienced a simulation of descent in elevation from the alpine environment of bighorn sheep and mountain goats through the forest, meadows, and down to the plains and basins, currently and over the centuries. Cannot convey how well they presented this production!!!!!! =Really GREAT.
Day #2
Back to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West to take in the other four museums of Buffalo Bill / Western Art / Plains Indian Museum / Cody Firearms Museum.
Each museum was a treasure, but Tom realllllly liked the Firearms Museum as it is the largest collection of American Firearms in the world (over 10,000 individual DIFFERENT guns). Yvonne’s opinion is that after you see 100 guns, you’ve seen them all!
Written November 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Whinbrook
Greater London, UK441 contributions
Jun 2022
Impressive and comprehensive collection of museums pertaining to the Wild West, Buffalo Bill and the culture of this period in American history.
The art gallery was of international standards, brilliant. The Plains Indians gallery was involving and very interesting, quite moving in parts as well. The Buffalo Bill section was also very illuminating and gave an in depth appraisal of the man and his showmanship. The gun museum was less interesting but maybe that was a cultural thing. The natural and wildlife exhibitions were also involving.
There is a lot to see and its possible to get 'culture fatigue' quite quickly but your entry ticket is good for two days so you can pace yourself and get the most out of all the museums.
The art gallery was of international standards, brilliant. The Plains Indians gallery was involving and very interesting, quite moving in parts as well. The Buffalo Bill section was also very illuminating and gave an in depth appraisal of the man and his showmanship. The gun museum was less interesting but maybe that was a cultural thing. The natural and wildlife exhibitions were also involving.
There is a lot to see and its possible to get 'culture fatigue' quite quickly but your entry ticket is good for two days so you can pace yourself and get the most out of all the museums.
Written July 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is included in the admission price?
ShortAxis
Cape Girardeau, MO19 contributions
One admission price, all 5 museums. Nice eating place right in the middle. Well planned, well executed.
Do you have to pay to get to see each attraction or is it one fee and you see everything?
Amanda B
28 contributions
I have a 5 and 8 year old. Would this be worthwhile going with 2 kids?
Jocdgr8
Camp Verde, AZ93 contributions
Yes. The nature section has animal dioramas, including dinosaurs. Plus both the cowboy and the Indian areas have some houses that one can go in to see how people lived back then.
Lua L
Fort Wayne, IN10 contributions
My puppy is disabled rides in a buggy or back or front pack would he be allowed he is 10pounds.
N5039FAmaryb
Des Plaines, IL22 contributions
I know that people with service dogs are allowed but not any other types of dogs. Sorry, that doesn't help so I'd leave him at the hotel or motel.
SM_Farr_Family
Signal Mountain, TN30 contributions
Is there a restaurant on site? If so, is it good?
Cornelia H
Madison, WI19 contributions
There is a cafe on site.... variety of food options and nice small seating area... There is also a great separate area for wireless use near the bathrooms....so no one is disturbed by people talking on phones, etc....
Is there an admission
Ohbygeorge
United States240 contributions
Yes there is and it covers all of the museums in the complex. I think it was around $20 per adult. Not sure if discounts are available for members i.e. AAA, AARP, etc.
Is there an admission
LAC1030
Aarhus Denmark188 contributions
There is an admission price which you can find on their website. It is well worth it. This place is definitely worth a visit.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West (Cody) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo Bill Center of the West
- Buffalo Bill Center of the West is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- We recommend booking Buffalo Bill Center of the West tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Buffalo Bill Center of the West tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Buffalo Bill Center of the West:
- (0.32 mi) Best Western Sunset Inn
- (0.47 mi) Chamberlin Inn
- (0.19 mi) Sunrise Motor Inn
- (0.49 mi) Best Western Premier Ivy Inn & Suites
- (0.31 mi) Moose Creek Lodge and Suites
- Restaurants near Buffalo Bill Center of the West:
- (0.25 mi) Chinatown Chinese Buffet
- (0.35 mi) Millstone Pizza Company & Brewery
- (0.41 mi) Rawhide Coffee
- (0.49 mi) 8th Street at the Ivy
- (0.26 mi) China Town
Buffalo Bill Center of the West Information
Excellent Reviews | 4,036 |
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Very Good Reviews | 529 |
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