Road Log The Famous Cody Road to Yellowstone Park

Early pictorial log of the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, formerly known as the Cody Road.

An icon in the pantheon of the American West, Colonel William Frederick ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody struck out for the Gold Rush, rode on the Pony Express, fought for the Union in the Civil War, won the Medal of Honor, and established a globally popular franchise in his lifetime. During his later years, he was also influential in the establishment of Cody, Wyoming and operated a dude ranch about thirty miles south in the early 20th century.

Thus, it should be no surprise that the town would leverage his fame to the utmost just a few decades after the heroes’ death in 1917. Travelers to Yellowstone National Park can take the 51.6-mile-long Cody Road through the heart of Buffalo Bill Country, pictorially illustrated in vibrant color.

The route splits the image vertically, with landmarks individually labeled on either side. An accompanying distance log is provided on the left. Buffalo Bill’s old hunting lodge, the Pahaska Tepee, is advertised heavily on the verso.