Exhibit
Features Treasures for ‘Buffalo Bill’s Attic’
A lock of Buffalo
Bill’s hair, a bottle of cologne and a horse-hoof
paperweight . . .
By Staff
A
lock of Buffalo Bill’s hair, a bottle of cologne
and a horse-hoof paperweight are just of few of the
artifacts featured in “MemoraBILLia: Treasures
from Buffalo Bill’s Attic,” a temporary
exhibit appearing at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave
now through Nov. 2, 2003. The staff has rummaged through
the Museum’s storage area and created the exhibit
to show off the unusual and ordinary items that were
part of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s
life.
Johnny Baker, Buffalo Bill’s foster son, started
the Buffalo Bill Museum in 1921 with the intent of memorializing
his foster father and mentor. The Museum exhibited artifacts
he had collected over his 35-year association with Buffalo
Bill as well as items he received from Cody’s
widow Louisa. Many of the items were eventually put
in storage. This exhibit will be the public’s
first chance in many years to see some of the artifacts.
The exhibit features a potpourri of things from Buffalo
Bill’s life. The long flowing lock of Buffalo
Bill’s hair dates to his early years in show business.
The bottles of cologne and shaving cream date to Buffalo
Bill’s later years; the paperweight was made from
the hoof of Cody’s horse Prince, who died in 1905.
Some of the items in the exhibit were associated with
Buffalo Bill’s business undertakings, such as
a stock certificate from his failed mining company,
while other items, like a miniature saddle used by his
children, were very personal. An invitation to tea with
Oscar Wilde and a painting presented to Cody by Frederic
Remington demonstrate Cody’s connections with
the celebrities of his time.
Elsewhere in the Museum is a rare advertising poster
from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, titled “Lariat
Experts in Marvelous Feats.” The large 6-by-6-foot
poster depicts Mexican Vaqueros on horseback, and was
made by the Courier Lithographic Company of Buffalo,
New York. This company’s posters for Buffalo Bill’s
Wild West show, produced between 1896 and 1907, a characterized
by bold colors and dramatic action.
Special events planned for this year include Buffalo
Bill’s Birthday Celebration on Feb. 23–featuring
free cake and ice cream with a plethora of Buffalo Bill
look-a-likes–and Western Heritage Day and Burial
Commemoration on June 7.
The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave are located on Lookout
Mountain, just 30 minutes from downtown Denver. The
Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., every day but
Monday. An admission fee is charged.
For more information, visit www.buffalo.bill.org or
call (303) 526-0744.
©
2002 Mountain States Collector