Buffalo Bill Cody and Cincinnati

Story and photos by Mary Casey-Sturk

Earlier this summer, I visited Cody, Wyoming. This city, founded by famed showman, William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill Cody, charmed me from the moment I stepped out of our rental vehicle. Cody, the man, charmed Cincinnati many times over with his high energy Wild West shows.

During this era, there were several versions of these action-packed tributes to the American West: Buffalo Bill’s Combination acting troop (1872-1886), Buffalo Bill’s Wild West (1884-1908), Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, and Pawnee Bill’s Far East (1909-1913), Sells-Floto Circus and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West (1914-1915) and Buffalo Bill and the 101 Ranch combined (1916).

Perhaps the most famous figure of the American Old West, Cody began performing when he was 23 and participated in thousands of performances in his career. These performances traveled the United States and beyond to countries including Belgium, Austria, Croatia and England.

Between 1872 and 1912, a version of his show came to Cincinnati 21 times.

Cody and Cincinnati Arts

Cody also has a strong connection with Cincinnati’s printing industry. Posters advertising his shows for various locations were printed here in town. Kristin Spangenberg, Curator of Prints at the Cincinnati Art Museum shared, “Four Cincinnati firms printed posters for him during the time he was touring.  This includes the Strobridge Lithographing Company, Russell & Morgan, Enquirer Printing Company and the U.S. Printing Company.”  Though none are currently on view, the museum has several examples in their collection.

I saw several posters from Cincinnati-based printers while visiting Cody’s Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate and houses five family-friendly museums: The Buffalo Bill Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Draper Natural History, the Cody Firearms Museum as well as the McCracken Research Library.

Within the Buffalo Bill Museum, which houses vehicles, personal items and ephemera from various productions is where I found some examples of posters printed in Cincinnati. On display were posters printed by Russell & Morgan Print. “From Prairie to Palace” (ca. 1910) is a four-color lithograph celebrating when Buffalo Bill’s Wild West tour went to England in May 1887 with a performance for Queen Victoria.  Another poster on display advertises a show that included the Wild West show and Pawnee Bill’s Far East, this poster was printed by the U.S. Lithographic Co, Russell-Morgan Print (by then partners).

You may have seen the work of artists Joseph Henry Sharp (1859-1953) and Henry Farny (1847-1916) in the Cincinnati Wing of the Cincinnati Art Museum. Known for their paintings of the west and portrayals of American Indians. Sharp, who was born in Ohio and studied at the McMicken School of Design and later taught at the Cincinnati Art Academy spent considerable time in the Santa Fe and Taos regions of New Mexico learning about and spending time with indigenous Crow.

The Whitney Western Art Museum holds numerous works by Sharp in their collection, personal items, his papers and the Montana cabin he lived in is on display (Absarokee Hut  c 1905). These items were gifted by Forrest Fenn of Santa Fe who chronicled Sharp’s life and work.

French-born Farny and his family reached Cincinnati around 1859 after having moved from France to Warren, Pennsylvania, near a Seneca Indian reservation. This heavily influenced his creativity.  His travels out west led to many paintings, including those of nearby Yellowstone.  His work can also be found at the Whitney Western Art Museum.

The Buffalo Center of the West is well worth the visit for lovers of history, art and nature. There are multiple programs and galleries to explore, a café, outdoor areas with sculptures and your ticket is good for two days. centerofthewest.org

More to explore

Cody is home to numerous historic local attractions and museums including the Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center, Old Trail Town & Museum of the West, Cody Heritage Museum, Historic Cody Mural & Museum, Cody Dug Up Gun Museum, Homesteader Museum, and the Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center. Nearby, you’ll find the Pahaska Tepee Lodge which was Buffalo Bill’s 1904 hunting lodge and it is on the National Historic Registry and Meeteetse Museums with exhibits on endangered animals, the Western photography of Charles Belden and more.

CodyYellowstone.org