Iowa All Over: Buffalo Bill Museum showcases 'world's first superstar'

LECLAIRE — Since 1957, the Buffalo Bill Museum in LeClaire has been showcasing the life and legacy of a man whom museum executive director Bob Schiffke calls 'the world's first superstar' — William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody.

Cody was born Feb. 26, 1846, in LeClaire, where he lived until he was eight years old, when he moved to Kansas. He had a colorful life: When he was 14, Buffalo Bill was a rider for the Pony Express, carrying mail across the country before the Transcontinental Railroad was built. He fought in the Civil War, first as a Union scout and then in 1863 he enlisted with Seventh Kansas Cavalry.

But Buffalo Bill is best known today for his Wild West shows, Schiffke said. From 1872 to 1883, he spent the fall, winter and spring touring with his 'Buffalo Bill Combination' stage show, according to the museum's records. During the late spring and summer months, he was a scout for the U.S. Army or a guide for hunting expeditions or explorations out west.

Inside the museum, visitors will see a collection of pictures and posters featuring Cody. A buffalo head is mounted on one wall near a display of rifles such as those used by Buffalo Bill.

Buffalo Bill also contracted with the people who were building the railroad across the plains to provide meat for them, Schiffke said, which earned him his famous nickname.

'He would just ride into the herd, shoot them, one shot basically, and killed buffalo,' Schiffke said.

His tactics inspired writers from the East, who wrote about him in newspapers and in so-called dime novels. A display case in the museum contains copies of some of the books.

In his shows, Cody staged battles with Native Americans, buffalo hunts, stagecoach robberies and other events taking place in the West, Schiffke said.

'Eventually he even had horseback riders from other countries in his shows,' Schiffke noted.

The show was produced in most big cities in the East and Midwest. In 1893, Cody attempted to bring the show to the Chicago World's Fair. Although he wasn't successful getting inside, he still found an audience.

'They wouldn't let him in the World's Fair, so he set up outside,' Schiffke said. His show helped attract viewers and detract from the World's Fair.

Cody also took his show across the ocean, performing in England, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, Schiffke said.

'We get a lot of European visitors that seem to know as much or more about Buffalo Bill than a lot of Americans that come in,' said Connie Curlott, group tour coordinator and member of the museum's board. 'He was really revered in Europe, too.'

Schiffke said it was Buffalo Bill's personality that drew people in. That, and he put on a good show.

Buffalo Bill died in 1917 in Denver, broke. Poor investments were to blame, Schiffke noted.

For Schiffke, Buffalo Bill's legacy is simple — 'He kept alive or showed the rest of the nation and the world how the West was won,' Schiffke said.

The museum, located next to the Mississippi River, features a number of other exhibits. One highlight is the Lone Star Stern Wheeler, the last wooden hulled steamboat in the United States and a designated National Historic Landmark that is open to visitors. The museum recently added a sound to the River Pilot's Pier building where the ship is, creating the sense of the boat being out on the water.

There also is a section on the history of river pilots in LeClaire, including their homes. River pilots played a critical role in LeClaire's early history.

'Up until the 1930s, there were rapids in the river,' Schiffke said. 'So they had to have special pilots to take you through the rapids, and all those pilots lived here in LeClaire.'

The site also features replicas of boats, including one of the riverboat Robert E. Lee. There is an educational play room for young children and a room with women's clothing from the early 1900s. In addition, there is an archival room where people can research Buffalo Bill, the Mississippi River, river pilots and riverboat history.

The museum features exhibits on other famous LeClaire residents. One of them is Professor James J. Ryan II, a 1920 graduate of LeClaire High School who is best known as the inventor of the Ryan Flight Recorder — an airplane's black box — in 1972, according to the museum.

Other exhibits showcase Mississippi River history and artifacts and records from LeClaire families.

If you go

What: Buffalo Bill Museum

Where: 199 N. Front St., Le Claire

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m., Sunday

Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors

Call (563) 289-5580 or go to buffalobillmuseumleclaire.com