When we checked in the gentleman in the office loaded us with so much information of what to do and see in Cody, it was difficult to decide where to begin. Our friends Chris and Jan had also sent along a message of what to see and avoid while we were here...
As quick history of the Cody: it was one of the last places in the west to be developed. Wyoming has only been a state since 1890 and Cody wasn't formed until 1895-1896. A few cattle ranches were established in the basin as early as 1878. Prior to that, this area was inhabited by Crow Indians
By 1895, William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody had worked wagon trains, been a celebrated Pony Express rider, military scout, buffalo hunter, showman and entrepreneur. He had married, established his Scouts Rest Ranch, written an autobiography, started numerous business enterprises and due to the worldwide success of his Wild West show, had acquired fame and fortune.
Attracted by the big game, spectacular views and DeMars Hot Springs, Cody took a liking to this area and applied his capability for grand visions toward creating a town named after himself. Buffalo Bill had the vision to realize that a town needed five things to survive - water, a newspaper, lodging, transportation and visitor traffic. He set out to establish all five for Cody.
His dream of irrigating thousands of arid acres east of Cody from the Shoshone River was realized with the building of the Buffalo Bill dam..... thus this is the first place we visited.
The dam was one of the first three major ones built by the Bureau of Reclamation. Construction began October 19, 1905 and was completed January 15, 1910. Total cost of the dam (1910 dollars) $929,658. It was the first arch dam in the world, and also the highest at 325 feet at completion. Length at base - 70 feet. Length of dam at crest - 200 feet.
Construction in 1988 began to raise the crest of the dam by 25 feet, thereby increasing the water storage from 375,000 acre feet to 647,000 acre feet. Construction was completed in 1991.
Because of its historical significance, Buffalo Bill Dam was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1973.
You can tour the dam for free and learn about the building of the dam.
The dam is located on the Shoshone River at the west end of the Shoshone Canyon.
It was an amazing sight!
Monday we will be off to visit the Buffalo Bill Museum.... more on that later.
Love to all, Candy and Johnny
