Today marks the 162nd birthday of none other than William “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Creator of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and a wild west legend, Buffalo Bill lived a life of danger and excitement. PBS recently featured him on their American Experience series, airing Monday nights.
What most people may not know is that Buffalo Bill’s final resting place is right here in Colorado, just a few miles outside of Denver, in Golden.
Buffalo Bill’s grave sits atop Lookout Mountain, and has a museum dedicated to him located near by. Even this tranquil place is not without controversy, as there was rumored to be a will where he asked to be buried in Cody, Wyoming, but that some unscrupulous people tricked his wife, Louisa, into having him buried in Colorado:
Despite his request to be buried in Cody, Wyoming, in an early will, it was superseded by a later will which left his burial arrangements up to his wife Louisa. To this day there is controversy as to where Cody should have been buried. According to the writer Larry McMurtry, Harry Tammen and Frederick Gilmer Bonfils of the Denver Post, who had strong-armed Cody into appearing in their Sells-Floto Circus, either “bullied or bamboozled the grieving Louisa” and had Cody buried in Colorado. This is consistent with an account by Gene Fowler, who wrote Cody’s obituary for the Post under direction from Tammen and Bonfils
Shawn Marie and I visited his grave a little over a year ago. We did not get to see much of the museum, as we arrived just before they closed. We did, however, get to see the grave itself, and the spectacular view from the mountaintop. It’s worth the drive, and a great opportunity to introduce your kids to a part of the American West.
Tags: , American Experience, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, PBS, William "Buffalo Bill" CodyShare This
