They Stole Buffalo Bill's House
Tracking the showman and his home from LeClaire, Iowa, to Golden, Colorado.
Categories: Renegade Roads
By: Scott M. Fisher 04/01/2008
I drive into Cody, with my nieces, who are anxious to find the “stolen house” that is now part of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the town’s main attraction. The Buffalo Bill Museum itself is only one of the many galleries that make up this impressive learning and research center. The center also offers museums devoted to natural history, Plains Indians, art and firearms.
At the Buffalo Bill wing, you’ll find items of his youth, mixed in with the usual Wild West show posters.
At one point during our tour, Elizabeth exclaimed, “Uncle Scott, here’s the key to the house!” as she pointed to a glass display case. Sure enough, there, on a shelf, was a wrought iron key that stated it unlocked the front door of the “Boyhood Home of Buffalo Bill in LeClaire, Iowa.” Surely the house itself couldn’t be far away.
Melissa took a closer look at our Historical Center Visitor’s Guide and pointed out a line drawing in the upper left-hand corner, far removed from the main segment of the center, that stated: “Buffalo Bill Boyhood Home.” We walked outside and to the back of the center, and, sure enough, next to the rear parking lot was a two-story house, rather plain looking.
Once inside the house, we heard a recording explaining what was in the home. Several placards pointed out the architecture and furnishings. Perhaps such a house could have been loaded onto a railroad flatcar in the dark of night after all?
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