Old Trail Town | Cody

Old Trail Town, located in Cody, Wyoming, is an outdoor history museum that preserves a collection of authentic 19th- and early-20th-century buildings from the American West. Established in 1931, the site recreates a frontier town atmosphere, showcasing the architecture, tools, and lifestyles of homesteaders, ranchers, and early settlers in the Wyoming territory.

Historic Buildings

Old Trail Town features more than 20 original structures relocated from throughout the region. Visitors can explore log cabins, a one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and a saloon, each furnished with period artifacts. Notable buildings include Buffalo Bill Cody’s cabin and the Irma Hotel replica, offering insight into the daily life and social hubs of the early West. Signs and exhibits explain building techniques, family life, and the challenges of frontier living.

Western Heritage and Figures

The site highlights legendary figures of the Old West, including Buffalo Bill Cody, sharpshooters, and frontier lawmen. Life-size wax figures and interpretive displays bring stories of cattle drives, gold prospecting, and pioneer survival to life, giving visitors a sense of the people and events that shaped the region.

Visitor Experience

Walking through Old Trail Town offers a hands-on and immersive experience. Visitors can step inside the cabins, examine period furnishings, and imagine frontier life. The outdoor setting allows for scenic views of the surrounding landscape, echoing the wide-open plains and rugged mountains that early settlers encountered. Special events occasionally feature reenactments, demonstrations, and family activities that recreate the atmosphere of a living frontier town.

Atmosphere and Experience

Old Trail Town combines history, storytelling, and scenic beauty to transport visitors to the American frontier. The weathered wood, creaking floors, and rustic layout evoke a tangible sense of the past, while the backdrop of Cody and the nearby mountains reinforces the connection between human history and the natural landscape. The site provides a quiet, reflective, yet engaging way to explore the heritage of Wyoming’s early settlers and the lore of the Old West.