WILLIAM FREDERICK “BUFFALO BILL” CODY

(1846–1917)
Full Name: William Frederick Cody
Alias: Buffalo Bill
Born: February 26, 1846 (Scott County, Iowa)
Died: January 10, 1917 (Denver, Colorado)
Key Occupations: Frontier Scout, Bison Hunter, Showman, Soldier

TIMELINE

• 1857: Employs as a messenger boy following his father’s death.
• 1860: Rides for the iconic Pony Express at age fourteen.
• 1864: Enlists in the 7th Kansas Cavalry during the Civil War.
• 1867: Earns the nickname “Buffalo Bill” hunting for the railroad.
• 1869: Becomes a dime novel folk hero via writer Ned Buntline.
• 1872: Receives the Congressional Medal of Honor for army scouting.
• 1883: Launches “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” traveling exhibition.
• 1887: Travels to England, performing for Queen Victoria.
• 1896: Founds the frontier town of Cody, Wyoming.
• 1917: Passes away; buried on Lookout Mountain, Colorado.

CONTRIBUTIONS & IMPACT

1. Mythologized the West: Created the global commercial blueprint for the
   Western genre through live, action-packed theater pageants.
2. Progressive Advocacy: Supported equal pay/rights for women and fair treatment
   for Native American performers.
3. Conservation & Infrastructure: Funded critical early irrigation projects
   and community development in the state of Wyoming.