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Show The West's Best Kept Secret 4 A Pawnee scalp shirt and Crow saddle blanket, displaying human scalps, remind us of an ancient Asian custom seldom practiced by North American Indians in pre-Columbian days. Scalping was introduced in the eastern United States during the early Colonial period, when the French and British governments began offering scalp bounties for their enemies' loses. The practice spread and continued as an Indian custom until the raid-nineteenth century. With the introduction of Winchester's level action carbine, introduced in 1873, the Plains Indians were soon defeated and sent to reservations. A hundred years later, Winchester again built the model '73 as a Buffalo Bill commemorative rifle, donating five dollars to the museum for each of the 100,000 rifles sold. Serial number 100,000 and serial number 300 from a limited gold plated edition are displayed side by side near the contemporary art section. A small central area is devoted to modern day western artists whose works are rotated three or four times each summer. Anyone who produces high quality western art can find a welcome gallery to display their work. Cody, Wyoming houses a people's museum, made to accommodate travelers during long summer days between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., charging $1.50 for adults, $.75 for children six to 15 years, and youngsters free. Open seven days a week from May 1 to October 1, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is a non-profit example of people dedicated to their town and the man who founded it. (End) |
