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Located 52 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, the town of Cody was founded in 1896 by one of the American West’s most influential and legendary characters – Col. William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Along with two nearby towns – Meeteetse and Powell – the destination hosts more than one million visitors per year. They come to see a world-cass museum, fish, float down a river, watch a rodeo and more.

Here are some favorite, budget-friendly activities for the younger crowd:

Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Yes, it is a museum – actually five museums in one – with fancy exhibits, world-famous artwork, rare guns and more. With children, especially the really young ones, it is all about the presentation. Children of any age love seeing the life-size displays of critters found in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem at the Draper Museum of Natural History. The BBHC offers many helpful tips for visiting with kids. Admission: family rate - $45; adults - $15; students (13 and up, including college kids with IDs): $13; youth (five to 12) - $10; children under five – free. Admission includes visitation to all five museums for two consecutive days.

Cody Nite Rodeo Cody hosts a rodeo every night from June 1 through August 31st. Sanctioned by the PRCA, the Cody Nite Rodeo features riders and ropers from around the country. Little kids love the clowns, everyone loves the barrel racing, teenage boys are especially interested in the bull riding and teenage girls are particularly interested in, well, the cowboys. Admission: adults and teens - $18; children seven – 12 - $8; children under seven – free.

Tecumseh’s Old West Miniature Village and Museum
Any child who has played with model trains or miniature action figures will love this place. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, this spectacular diorama tells the story of the West, one scene at a time. The room-size, glass-enclosed display case features depictions of a bison jump, the Battle of Little Bighorn and a stockade trading post under Sioux Indian attack. The museum also includes hundreds of Native American artifacts such as clothing, tomahawks and even a wooden canoe. A trading post sells reasonably priced goods not found in typical gift shops, including hand-made leather coats. Admission is free.

Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue
Families should be prepared to laugh. This fast-paced, family-friendly show features songs of the West, cowboy poetry and some well-placed comedy that even the little ones will enjoy. Performances are held nightly May through September. Admission: $14.

Old Trail Town/Museum of the Old West
This is a visual learners’ paradise and a fascinating stop for anyone interested in Western history. This collection of 26 authentic frontier buildings – including one used by Butch Cassidy and his gang – illustrates what it was like to live in the Old West. Old Trail Town also includes several gravesites including the grave of the real Jeremiah “Liver Eating” Johnston. Johnston was portrayed by Robert Redford in the 1972 classic “Jeremiah Johnson.” Old Trail Town is open daily. Admission: adults - $8; children 12 and under - $4.

Pahaska Tepee
Once recognized as the most famous person in the world, Buffalo Bill Cody did, occasionally, like to take a break from the demands of running and performing in his legendary Wild West Show. And he liked to hunt. In 1904, Buffalo Bill built Pahaska Tepee, a hunting lodge located just outside the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park. The lodge was named Pahaska, meaning “Long Hair,” for the nickname bestowed upon him by local Indians. He hosted numerous guests, including President Theodore Roosevelt and the Prince of Monaco at the rustic, masculine lodge, and many items given to Cody by his guests are on display in the lodge. Pahaska Tepee today also includes a restaurant – a popular pre-park stop for hungry families – and a variety of accommodations. Tours of the hunting lodge are free.

Cody Trolley Tour
This informative summer-season attraction is a great way to gain an overview of the town of Cody. The one-hour, 22-mile tour presents local history, area attractions, geology, wildlife and spectacular scenery interwoven with the compelling story of "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The tour includes two lively narrators, a dozen poster-sized photos from historical archives and many entertaining audio clips. Admission: adults - $22; children - $10.

The Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center
Six miles west of Cody, there are self-guided tours explaining the significance of the dam and how William Cody himself convinced the U.S. Congress that government investment in the construction of the dam would be justified by the benefits to the region. Cody was right, and the dam’s effects are still seen today with agriculture thriving in the area.

Cody Gunfighters
These fun-loving, costumed locals gather six nights a week throughout the summer in front of the historic Irma Hotel to perform family-friendly, lighthearted skits depicting – not entirely accurately of course – rough-and-tumble life in the Old West. The gunfighters always stress the importance of gun safety, especially to the younger members of the audience. The performances begin at 6 p.m. Arrive early to claim your spot on the spacious porch of the hotel.

Cody Facts

Yellowstone Country is comprised of the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park.

The area of Park County is called “Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country because it was the playground of Buffalo Bill Cody himself. Buffalo Bill founded the town of Cody in 1896, and the entire region was driven and is still heavily influenced by the vision of the Colonel. Today its broad streets, world-class museum Buffalo Bill Historical Center and thriving western culture host nearly 1 million visitors annually.

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