MORE WESTERN HISTORY IN NEBRASKA

We left Buffalo Bill State Park the morning of Thursday, Oct. 9th. We headed to a big well known tourist attraction called Fort Cody Trading Post, just several miles away from Cody's ranch along RT. 80. You are greeted by a 30 foot tall Buffalo Bill. The trading post is made to look like frontier stockade. Soldier dummies man the stockade battlements and towers and one poor soldier won't be able to "sit" for a while.

There is a nice West Museum inside along with your typical souvenirs. There was a collection of guns, saddles, hats, boots, spurs, Native American history and other items from the western past.

One of the most amazing things was the "Buffalo Bill's Miniature Wild West Show". It was something to see. Over 20,000 tiny hand-carved
figures populate dioramas of Buffalo Bill's show.

The scenes were created by Ernie and Virginia Palmquist over a 12 year period. They carved and hand painted each figure! They created the tents, arena, railroad with rail road cars, horses, rodeo
stock, cowboys and Indians and the grandstands with crowds seated. Carved was Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill sitting upon his white horse and they were all in the arena performing.

There were 22 electronically controlled pieces. One was a farrier, (horse shoer) shoeing a horse, a cowboy riding a bucking horse, another on a bull, a cowboy lassoing a calf, a trick roper, Indians dancing and Annie Oakley shooting. There was also a marching band and lots of riders on horses riding the opening ceremonies. It was just amazing! I wanted to shrink myself into a 3" figure and seat myself in the grand stand with all the other excited people.

5 minutes out of every 30 minutes, the store would start the show. It was a recording with music and the voice of the arena announcer. He would start you off by telling you to get your ticket and enter through the gates of the arena. As he announced what was going on, you walk along and everything would come to life! It was quite a spectacle! I wanted to take pictures but I did  not think it would show up well shooting through glass. I should have tried though.

They had one of those distorted mirrors, we had a fun time with that. Brought back childhood memories.

I don't know what happened, but I will have to call Janna about my side ways pictures.