Buffalo Bill timeline

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody is born

William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody (February 26, 1846 – January 10, 1917) was an American soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the... Read more

Buffalo Bill takes a job as freight carrier after his father's death

While giving an anti-slavery speech at the local trading post, his father so inflamed the supporters of slavery in the audience that they formed a... Read more

Buffalo Bill enlists with the Seventh Kansas Calvary

After his mother recovered Cody wished to enlist as a soldier, but was refused for his age. He began working with a United States freight caravan... Read more

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody marries Louisa Frederici

After the war, on March 6, 1866, Will married Louisa Frederici in St. Louis, Missouri and their first child, Arta Lucille, was born the same year.... Read more

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody hunts buffalo to feed construction crew of Kansas Pacific Railroad

Finally, in 1867, Cody took up the trade that gave him his nickname, hunting buffalo to feed the construction crews of the Kansas Pacific Railroad.... Read more

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody serves as a scout for the United States Army

From 1868 until 1872 Cody was employed as a scout by the United States Army. Part of this time he spent scouting for Indians, and the remainder was... Read more

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody receives Medal of Honor

Cody received a Medal of Honor in 1872 for "gallantry in action" while serving as a civilian scout for the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. In 1917, the... Read more

Buffalo Bill Makes Stage Debut in 'The Scouts of the Prairie'

In December 1872 Cody traveled to Chicago to make his stage debut with friend Texas Jack Omohundro in The Scouts of the Prairie, one of the... Read more

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody creates "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" show

It was the age of great showmen and traveling entertainers. Cody put together a new traveling show based on both of those forms of entertainment.... Read more

Buffalo Bill's Wild West tours Europe

In 1887 he took the show to Britain in celebration of the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria. The show was staged in London before going on to... Read more

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody founds the city of Cody, Wyoming

In 1895, William Cody was instrumental in the founding of Cody, the seat of Park County in northwestern Wyoming. The site where the community was... Read more

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody dies

William F. Cody died of kidney failure on January 10, 1917, surrounded by family and friends at his sister's house in Denver. On his deathbed, Cody... Read more