Buffalo Bill Museum
The specter of the Wild West’s best showman may still be putting on his show from beyond the grave
Paranormal Claims at
the Buffalo Bill Museum
- Buffalo Bill’s apparition is seen at times
- Objects fly off of gift shop shelves
- A strange white mist has been seen around the museum
- Eerie feelings of being watched are reported
- A woman’s apparition is seen outside on the museum grounds
From Wild West Showman to Haunted Colorado Landmark: The History of the Buffalo Bill Museum
Buffalo Bill Cody was never an outlaw or criminal gunslinger, but his audacious Wild West shows made him a legend all the same.
When he died, the famous showman’s grave site on Colorado’s Lookout Mountain became its own little side show.
The Buffalo Bill Museum & Gravesite is a popular tourist attraction in Golden today.
Bill’s grave sits behind a short fence and is the museum’s main attraction. But the site features many exhibits about Bill’s life and performances. The most notable exhibit of all, though, may be the ghost of Buffalo Bill Cody.
Timeline of Buffalo Bill Museum's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Buffalo Bill Museum through the years
1921
Buffalo Bill Cody died a famous and relatively wealthy man in early 1917. His Wild West shows helped make the idea of the Old West into an enduring American legend. His family wanted to do the same thing for his legacy. Cody’s foster son, Johnny Baker, partnered with Denver shortly after Buffalo Bill’s burial to turn the gravesite into a landmark. The city offered up land around the burial site, and Baker and his wife built the Buffalo Bill Museum, opening it to the public in 1921.
1956
The Bakers took to calling their museum, ‘Pahaska Tepee,’ after Buffalo Bill’s hunting lodge. The Tepee museum building was quickly thronged with tourists each season. For the rest of his life, Johnny Baker stayed busy running the museum. After his death in 1931 his wife, Olivia, took full control of the operation, and ran it until her death in 1956. After her passing, Denver took back control of the land around the gravesite. Rather than redevelop it, though, Denver continued to run the popular tourist stop on Lookout Mountain.
1977
In 1977, Denver undertook a significant redevelopment of the museum’s land. A new museum building was constructed, with the old Tepee reused as a cafe and gift shop. These updates helped keep the Buffalo Bill Museum a popular exploration for the remainder of the 20th century. Today, countless people take in the mountain views from Bill Cody’s grave. But some say you can also spot Buffalo Bill himself taking in the view from the afterlife.
Is the Buffalo Bill Museum Haunted?
Understandably, Buffalo Bill Cody himself is most frequently mentioned as the ghost haunting Lookout Mountain.
His dark figure, complete with Old West outfit and tell-tale mustache, is most often encountered around the older museum building, the Pahaska Tepee.
The building’s gift shop in particular is well known for Buffalo Bill’s sudden manifestation.
Perhaps he’s simply enjoying the sight of so many trinkets and items dedicated to his life.
The Unknown Woman’s Ghost Haunting the Buffalo Bill Museum Grounds
Buffalo Bill isn’t the only mysterious figure haunting his namesake museum.
Another report tells of a woman’s apparition lingering the property, most regularly the outdoor areas close to the cliffside.
The story goes that this woman was once another museum visitor, but got too close to the mountain edge and slipped to her death off Lookout Mountain.
Now, her spirit purportedly haunts the Buffalo Bill Museum, taking in the scenic views right beside Bill.
Unexplained Mists and Physical Encounters at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Golden, Colorado
Other strange happenings with less certain sources are also reported around the Buffalo Bill Museum. At least one staff member has reported being pushed by one of the museum’s ghosts, though this is an uncommon claim.
Misty specters are also sometimes seen lingering around the site, though no one can firmly identify them.
Why the Pahaska Tepee Gift Shop Is the Buffalo Bill Museum’s Most Haunted Spot
Some visitors and staff at the old Pahaska Tepee gift shop report items and gifts being knocked from shelves. Sometimes, items are even tossed all the way across the room.
Since Buffalo Bill’s apparition is most often seen around that building, many people figure it is his entity causing trouble in the gift shop.
What Ghost Hunters Found at the Buffalo Bill Museum
While many reports at the Buffalo Bill Museum remain unexplained, the team from TV’s Ghost Hunters turned up a potential explanation for some activity.
During filming of an episode at the museum, high levels of EMF radiation were noted all through the property, stemming from nearby power lines. The high levels of EMF could explain eerie feelings of being watched or followed around the museum.
Why the Buffalo Bill Museum Remains Colorado’s Most Legendary Haunted Attraction
Buffalo Bill Cody is still one of the most famous names of the American Wild West. While so many famous figures of the era earned their name through crime, Cody built a legacy a family could be proud of.
The Buffalo Bill Museum puts that pride on full display today. Tourists still flock up Lookout Mountain each year to see Buffalo Bill’s grave and take in the views from his scenic burial ground.
While many people come to the museum for educational exhibits, some stop in just hoping for an eerie encounter. They explore the gift shop, hoping something will fly off the shelf; they visit Bill’s grave in hopes of seeing him come alive.
Buffalo Bill Cody was a showman in just about every sense. But perhaps his greatest show is the disappearing act his specter puts on at his namesake museum.
