Buffalo Bill Dam
Completed in 1910, Buffalo Bill Dam was designed as the tallest dam in the world. Through the years, it has helped turn the virtual desert of the northern Big Horn Basin into one of Wyoming's most fertile farming regions. The reservoir is the source of the Shoshone Irrigation Project - one of the oldest reclamation project in the U.S. The Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center provides a dramatic view of the Shoshone Canyon from 353 feet high, and is free to tour the facility.
Facts:
- Colonel William F Cody, Founder of Cody, Wyoming, spent many years promoting and attempting to raise money for this dream of irrigating thousands of arid acres east of Cody from the Shoshone River. Buffalo Bill Dam was the realization of this vision for the future of Cody and the surrounding area.
- This dam was one of the first three major ones built by the Bureau of Reclamation. Construction began October 19, 1905 and was completed January 15, 1910.
- Total cost of the dam (1910 dollars) was $929,658
- Original height at completion was 325 feet, the highest dam in the world
- Length of dam at base - 70 feet
- Length of dam at crest - 200 feet
- Water storage capacity before raising the dam - about 400,000 acre feet
- An 8-year modification project, increasing the dam height by 25 feet to a total of 353 feet, was completed in 1993
- The dam raising and expansion added about 250,000 acres feet of water storage capacity, for a total of approximately 650,000
- 25.5 megawatts of power generation capacity was part of the modification project, including construction of two new power plants about one mile below the dam and refurbishment of the old Shoshone power plant, visible just below the dam.
- The reservoir provides irrigation and drinking water for Cody and much of the Big Horn Basin
- Because of its historical significance, Buffalo Bill Dam was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1973.
Visitor Center:
- Located 6 miles west of Cody at the Buffalo Bill Dam.
- Information on Yellowstone National Park, Cody, Powell and surrounding area.
- Small theater that provides films on camping, hiking, hunting and other outdoor activities.
- Fantastic views and informative displays & exhibits.
- Gift Shop that offers a large selection of books on western history, western cooking and nature.
- Open May thru September approximately, 8 am to 6 pm, and 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays. Hours extend to 8 pm Monday-Friday in June, July and August.
-Free to tour on your own.
Contact Information:
Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center
1002 Sheridan Ave.
Cody, Wyoming 82414
307-527-6076
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Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center
The Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center welcomes visitors and locals to tour parts of the dam and to enjoy its history filled museum.
