This Small Western Town Prepares For A Big Artistic Event — Why You’ll Want To Go

Cody, Wyoming, is known for its proximity to Yellowstone National Park, but it’s also a haven for artists of all types.

“From the street sculptures that line Sheridan Avenue to the town’s numerous galleries, I am surrounded by our destination’s world-class art every day of the year,” Ryan Hauck told TravelAwaits. 

Hauck is the executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell, and Meeteetse, as well as parts of the Shoshone National Forest and a large swath of Yellowstone National Park.

Cody’s biggest art event of the year, the Rendezvous Royale will be held next week, September 18–23, 2023.

Billed as “a celebration of fine art interpreting the land, people, and wildlife of the American West,” Rendezvous Royale includes an auction of contemporary Western art, a Quick Draw event, educational seminars, and studio tours. The event will conclude with the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, a fine art sale that showcases stylistic interpretations of the American West.

Details and a schedule of events may be found at Rendezvous Royale.

You can learn more about the auction, and even register to attend, at Rendezvous Royale’s 2023 Live Auction Gallery.

Cody’s Art Heritage

Cody — named in honor of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who was one of its founders — is just 53 miles from Yellowstone’s east entrance.

Its heritage of art began almost 100 years ago when New York heiress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney created The Scout, a massive sculpture of Buffalo Bill Cody on horseback, Hauck explains. The statue, dedicated on July 4, 1924, stands on a large stone base at the end of Sheridan Avenue — Cody’s main throughway.

It is also the cornerstone of the Whitney Western Art Museum, which is one of five museums within the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The Whitney is also home to numerous works by famous Western artists such as Charlie Russell, Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran, and Albert Bierstadt.

Cody’s Other Art Centers

Cody is also home to other attractions showcasing art crafted by local and regional artists. The Cody Country Art League, for instance, displays pottery, photography, mosaics, jewelry, and other artwork crafted by more than 200 artists.

Then there’s By Western Hands Museum & Gallery, a non-profit artisan guild that showcases Western design and functional art and includes galleries and workshop spaces. Its non-profit art gallery/gift shop features art, pottery, photography, wood, mosaics, and jewelry created by regional artists and artisans.

Know Before You Go

Fall is a perfect time to visit Cody Yellowstone, Hauck says.

“With families back home and kids in school, Cody Yellowstone in the fall tends to be a destination for mature audiences,” Hauck told TravelAwaits. “This is a time when grown-ups with a zest for adventure will find many ways to play and experience the authentic Western vibe of Cody Yellowstone.”

Here are some of Hauck’s favorite ways to enjoy fall in the Cody Yellowstone area:

• Go fishing in the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River as well as rivers and streams in Yellowstone National Park.
• Drive a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) into the backcountry to visit a ghost town such as Kirwin, which was founded during the gold rush in the 1800s.
• Drive a scenic byway and enjoy fall’s colors while traveling in Wyoming’s valleys, mountain passes, rivers, and forests.
• View wildlife including bears, elk, wolves, moose, bison, eagles, and river otters.