Buffalo Bill Ranch
We were able to stop at the famous Buffalo Bill's ranch called "Scouts Rest Ranch." Buffalo Bill led a very active life and there is too much history to include here. He is most famous for his Wild West shows, but he also a Pony Express rider, served as a Ranger for the Union forces during the Civil War, was a stage driver, a hotel manager, a scout, a buffalo hunter, and much more!
His 4,000 acre ranch has long since been divided and the remaining 256 acres are now a State Historical Site and Recreation Area. The park like area is truly "restful".
The horse barn is 148 feet long, 70 feet wide, and 40 feet high. It took 7 railroad cars of lumber to build. The rafter ends under the eaves are shaped like gun stocks.
Here you can see the gun stock eaves and the interior of the front side of the barn.
A side-saddle, used by ladies.
A western saddle.
The back side of the barn now is a museum of wagons and information from the Wild West Shows.
Annie Oakley was one of the Wild West show's most popular members. Annie was a sharp shooter (a skill gained at a young age by providing food for her family), and won a match (by one pigeon) against sharp shooter Frank Butler on Thanksgiving Day 1875. She was 15 and the man she shot against became her husband a year later.
The barn had is won blacksmith shop.
I got to pose with Buffalo Bill!
There is also an old cabin on the grounds.
