Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West *Summer hours in effect*
Open Daily: 8 am to 6 pm

Why is snow red in high alpine environments? Where do the specimens come from and how are they prepared?

Full scale natural history museum highlighting species, ecosystems, and processes of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. 20,000-sqft of exhibit and gallery space, live raptor experience featuring non-releasable birds, and active specimen preparation lab! How are bacteria in Yellowstone National Park tied to the replication of DNA? What makes eagles and hawks "superheroes of nature"? How do turkey vultures use projectile vomit to their advantage? Discover the answers to all of these questions and many, many more during your visit to the Draper Natural History Museum! Descend through an Alpine Cirque, Mountain Forest, Meadow, Plains and Basin ecosystem of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem on our "Alpine-to-Plains" trail featuring 20,000 square feet of galleries and exhibits. View into the Draper Discovery Lab to watch staff and volunteer prepare specimens every Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Catch the Draper Raptor Experience daily featuring educational programs with live raptors. Discover what makes Wyoming and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem a true treasure for nature, wildlife, and outdoor enthusiasts alike! The Draper Natural History Museum is part of a larger complex of five museums and a research library known as the Buffalo Bill Center of the West located in Cody, Wyoming.

Wildlife photography or AI? Sometimes, it's hard to tell! Here are a few tips from our staff to tell them apart. What ti...
10/14/2026

Wildlife photography or AI?

Sometimes, it's hard to tell! Here are a few tips from our staff to tell them apart. What tips did we miss? Let us know in the comments!

10/12/2026

A quick look back at one of our favorite videos - Reading with Raptors! Suli and Brandon vol. 1.

Enjoy!

Fall migration brings some unexpected visitors! 🍂🐦 For World Migratory Bird Day, we’re celebrating two unusual gulls spo...
10/10/2026

Fall migration brings some unexpected visitors! 🍂🐦 For World Migratory Bird Day, we’re celebrating two unusual gulls spotted at Alkali Lake this fall by the Beck Lake Birders.

📸 First two photos: Lesser Black-backed Gull
📸 Last two photos: Sabine’s Gull

Neither species is a resident or regular visitor to the Intermountain West, making these sightings a special treat for local birders. What brought them to Park County? We can’t say for certain, but storms and other weather events may have played a role.

Want to see what else stops by? Join the Beck Lake Bird Surveys! Volunteers meet near Taco John’s one hour after sunrise every Friday through November 13. It’s a chance to enjoy fall migration and help document our local birdlife.

Happy World Migratory Bird Day!

10/07/2026

Working with birds means the Draper Raptor team camera rolls are mostly devoted to photos of them
📷 🦅

🎃 Let’s kick off Spook-tober with a journey deep into the geologic origins of Halloween! 👻How did the rocks beneath our ...
10/06/2026

🎃 Let’s kick off Spook-tober with a journey deep into the geologic origins of Halloween! 👻

How did the rocks beneath our feet help shape the spooky season we know today? Take it away, Larry! 🪨

🎥 Watch now:

Note: "Stalagtite" is spelled incorrectly and should be "Stalactite...

Join us tomorrow, October 1st, for this Lunchtime Expedition! Programs are FREE and take place in the Coe Auditorium fro...
09/30/2026

Join us tomorrow, October 1st, for this Lunchtime Expedition! Programs are FREE and take place in the Coe Auditorium from noon - 1 pm. This month we're talking about wolverines.

Join us Thursday, October 1, 2026, for the next Draper Lunchtime Expedition, focusing on the Yellowstone wolverine.

Renowned wildlife tracker and educator Dr. James “Jim” Halfpenny will present a compelling overview of the wolverine’s history, ecology, and ongoing presence in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Drawing on decades of research and field experience, Dr. Halfpenny will review early historical reports, recent encounters, and mounting evidence that the local population may be on the rise.

The talk is free and begins at noon on October 1, 2026.

09/30/2026

As fall quickly approaches so does the Draper Museum Raptor Experience Program Schedule Change!

🍂 Oct 1st - Oct 31st 🍂

Daily Programs will be at 1pm!

Hope you see you there 🦅

📣Shout out to Sophie our intern for these stunning whiteboard drawings this summer!

Ever wondered what enrichment for a Golden Eagle looks like? Scroll through to see how Kateri interacts with her enrichm...
09/23/2026

Ever wondered what enrichment for a Golden Eagle looks like?

Scroll through to see how Kateri interacts with her enrichment!

09/18/2026

Today's is moraine!

Meet the yellow-bellied sapsucker—a woodpecker with a name as memorable as its feeding habits. Anne's latest blog explor...
09/16/2026

Meet the yellow-bellied sapsucker—a woodpecker with a name as memorable as its feeding habits. Anne's latest blog explores how these resourceful birds tap neat rows of sap wells in trees, sip the sweet rewards, and create a snack stop that can benefit other wildlife, too.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are woodpeckers that feed on tree sap. They drill holes in trees, which causes sap to flow out for them to feed on.

Address

720 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY
82414

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 8am - 6pm

Telephone

(307) 587-4771

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West:

Shortcuts

Share

Category