While Buffalo Bill Cody never referred to his Wild West exhibition as a
”show,” the similarities between his aggregation and the American circus were considerable. Both traveled to one-night stands by train, operated out of tented cities and presented free street parades to lure audiences to the performance. They also carried sideshows and placed heavy emphasis on equestrian skills.
So it is fitting that Baraboo`s Circus World Museum pays tribute to the Wild West and Buffalo Bill. In a colorful annex to its circus displays, visitors encounter a mannequin dressed in traditional Cody buckskins. A disembodied voice announces Wild West acts, which serves as narration for the enlarged vintage photographs that line the walls.
The centerpiece of this room is the original ticket wagon from the show. Twenty years ago it was rescued from duty as a chicken coop in Indiana, and a major restoration returned it to its original condition.
Also in the museum`s collection is the Pawnee Bill bandwagon. Cody surely admired this beauty, as it was a parade feature when he toured in later years with fellow Western showman, Pawnee Bill (Gordon Lillie).
The museum also boasts a collection of more than 100 show posters from Buffalo Bill`s Wild West. Many are on display, but most are stored in the museum`s research library. By appointment, archivist Fred Dahlinger Jr. will show a selection to serious students of the era.
The Wild West will return to life this year on Sunday, July 12, when Milwaukee`s Great Circus Parade will pay homage to Cody.
Col. Al Huffman of Evergreen, Colo., a Buffalo Bill lookalike, will lead the march that will include an Annie Oakley, the Cowboy Band, a covered wagon pulled by oxen, a mule-drawn stagecoach and a Congress of Rough Riders of the World, all features of the original Buffalo Bill parades.
This re-creation, produced by the Circus World Museum, is historically accurate in every detail.
Here are some Buffalo Bill addresses:
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Buffalo Bill Memorial Museum and Grave, 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Rd., Golden, Colo. 80401; 303-526-0747.
Gary and Helen Ice (owners of the house in which Cody died), 2932 Lafayette St., Denver, Colo. 80205.
Buffalo Bill Museum, Great River Days Festival and Mississippi River Cruises, LeClaire Chamber of Commerce, Box 406, LeClaire, Iowa 52753.
Circus World Museum, 426 Water St., Baraboo, Wis. 53913; 608-356-8341.
Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant, 1000 Osage St., Denver, Colo. 80204;
303-534-9505.