Buffalo Bill

With Golden’s Buffalo Bill Days kicking off next week, I figured it would be a great primer to look back on the life and adventures of the festivals namesake, William Frederick Cody, aka “Buffalo Bill”.

Born in 1846, Cody’s life reads like the plot of a dozen adventure novels (obvious foreshadowing). He was a Pony Express rider, Civil War solider, buffalo hunter, Army scout, Indian fighter, rancher, showman, and international celebrity. A real “man’s man” as some of the old timers would say. Each chapter of his life seemed to outdo the last in terms of adventure and achievement.

Cody’s frontier legend began early. When his father died and eleven year old William became the family breadwinner, he worked as a cattle herder and teamster before joining the Pony Express at age fourteen. He later claimed to have ridden 384 miles in under 22 hours - one of the longest rides in Pony Express history. This work is what would have brought him to what is now Golden, and up Mt. Vernon Canyon.

During the Civil War, Cody enlisted in the Union Army (age 17 none the less), later serving as a civilian scout during the Indian Wars. His tracking abilities were legendary, earning the praise as “the best scout ever known.”

Cody earned his famous nickname as a buffalo hunter for the Kansas Pacific Railroad, allegedly harvesting an absurd amount of buffalo (4,280) in an eight month period to feed the construction crews. If you believe that, it amounts to nearly 2 buffalo harvested for every working hour, 7 days straight, for 8 months. Tales were grander back in the old west, and Buffalo Bill was never one to shy away from a good story.

His transformation from frontier figure to national celebrity began when he met writer Ned Buntline, who featured him in numerous dime novels. The American public could not get enough of the Wild West, and a star was born. Soon, Cody was performing in stage plays, further blurring the line between William Cody the man and Buffalo Bill the character.

His most famous achievement was creating “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” show in 1883. This traveling entertainment depicting frontier life toured globally for over three decades, featuring authentic cowboys, Native Americans, and stars like Annie Oakley.

Never one to sit idle, Cody was an entrepreneur who founded the town of Cody, WY and invested in irrigation and mining ventures, to differing degrees of success. When he died in 1917, Cody wanted to be buried atop Lookout Mountain, with its sweeping views of the plains and foothills he experienced so many adventures in. While conspiracy theories abound (which we discussed here a few weeks back), you can still visit his gravesite in our backyard. As you stand there at the top of Lookout Mountain, looking over the same vast landscapes that shaped his remarkable life, you’re reminded that the American West was built by individuals whose lives were as grand and complicated as the country itself.

THE BRIEFING

Sunrise 5:46 AM
Sunset 8:28 PM
Fire Bans - None
Clear Creek Status - Green Flag, Open to All Uses

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Summerfest is a cornerstone of the foothills' summer festival season. Drawing artists from across the region and offering over 100 booths for attendees to check out, this annual 2-day festival also features live music throughout the day from local favorite bands, food trucks and spirits vendors, a children's craft and activity area, and a glorious landscape in which to enjoy it all. Summerfest 2025 runs July 19th and 20th from 10am-6pm Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday at Buchanan Park Field in Evergreen.

TUESDAY

Golden Public Library, Golden- The Colorful World of Gardening, 4:15-5:15pm. Dig in

Dedisse Park, Evergreen- 13.6 mile MTB ride with Jeffco Mountain Bike Club, 5:45pm. More info

Buffalo Rose, Golden- Golden Beer Talks: What is a Makerspace, 6pm. Local TED Talk

Over Yonder Brewing, Golden- The Final Open Bluegrass Pick Night, 6-9pm. Jam w/ friends

Green Mountain Brewery, Lakewood- Weekly Run Club, 6pm. Run, then beers

WEDNESDAY

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Bike Demo Days w/ Specialized Bikes, 2-7pm. Try before ya buy

Over Yonder Brewing, Golden- Church Choir (Eric Church Fan Gatherings), 2-4pm. These Boots

Buchanan Park, Evergreen- Summer Movie Night: Harry Potter, 4pm. Bring your own chair

Mountain Toad Brewing, Golden- Live music with Chrispy, 4-8pm.

The Golden Hotel, Golden- Wednesdays on the Creek Summer Music Series, 5-8pm. Check it out

Center for the Arts, Evergreen- Fired Up! Kids Fused Glass workshop, 5-7pm. Tickets

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Open Bluegrass Jam, 6-9pm. Join the fun

Miners Saloon, Golden- Live music Wednesdays, 6-9pm.

Dedisse Park, Evergreen- Evergreen Community Jazz Night, 6-8pm.

Little Bear Saloon, Evergreen- Live music with Young & Dead, 8-11pm. Shakedown Street

THURSDAY

Mountain Toad Brewing, Golden- Cheese Night with Cheese Ranch, 4-10pm. Yummy

Black Fox Provisions, Evergreen- Flatbed Sessions: Live music with The Galentines, 5:30-7:30pm. Cool

Runner’s Roost, Golden- Weekly Run Club, meet at 6pm

BP Run Co, Wheat Ridge- Weekly run club, starting at 6pm. Lace ‘em up

Tee Eddy Taproom & Hotel, Golden- Flash Tattoo Pop Up Event, 6pm. No Appointments needed

Cactus Jack’s Saloon, Evergreen- Thank you Thursday. Locals get 10% off all day while the kitchen is open, and a great warm up for Open Mic Night 👇️ 

Cactus Jack’s Saloon, Evergreen- Almost Famous Open Mic Night, starting at 7pm

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Music by the Mesa featuring Magoo, 6-9pm. Progressive Bluegrass

Buffalo Rose, Golden- My Blue Sky- Allman Brothers Tribute Band, 7pm. Jam Band

The Woodcellar, Evergreen- Open Mic Night (going on 8 years strong!), 7pm-close.

FRIDAY

The Golden Mill, Golden- Rooftop Yoga, 9:30-10:30am. Rain or Shine

Luki Brewery, Arvada- 5th Anniversary Party, 12-8pm. Full Event Schedule

Barrels & Bottles, Golden- Live music with Jay Martin, 6-9pm. Rock on

Goosetown Station, Golden- Big Hooray Bluegrass, 6:30pm. Bluegrass with a twist

The Woodcellar, Evergreen- Live Music with Kayla & the Rays, 8pm. Local Musicians

Little Bear Saloon, Evergreen- Eli Howard and the Greater Good in concert, 8-11pm. Folk Rock

SATURDAY

Golden Library Parking Lot, Golden- Golden Farmers Market, 8am-1pm. Fresh

Parfet Park, Golden- Yoga in the Park, 9-10am.

Hiwan Park, Evergreen- Outdoor Yoga with Free Range Yoga, 9-10am. Stretch it out

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Saturday Morning Yoga, 10-11am. Flow state

Buchanan Park, Evergreen- Center for the Arts 45th Annual Summer Fest, 10am-5pm. Explore

Foothills Art Center, Golden- Western Celebration Day, 10am-5pm. Good ol’ fashioned fun

Luki Brewery, Arvada- 5th Anniversary Party, 12-8pm. Full Event Schedule

Over Yonder Brewing, Golden- Shakedown Street Art Market, 1-4pm. Pre concert fun

State 38 Distilling, Golden- Sip & Sizzle: Woodburning Craft & Cocktails Workshop, 4pm. Have fun

SUNDAY

Apex Center, Arvada- Kids TRYathlon, 7-11am. Swim Bike Run

Olde Town, Arvada- Farmers Market, 9am-1:30pm. Fresh produce and fun

Golden Outpost, Golden- Country Market, 10am-3pm. Yeehaw

Buchanan Park, Evergreen- Center for the Arts 45th Annual Summer Fest, 10am-5pm. Explore

Luki Brewery, Arvada- 5th Anniversary Party, 12-8pm. Full Event Schedule

Mountain Toad Brewing, Golden- Board Game Night, 5pm-close. Have fun

MONDAY

The Eddy Taproom & Hotel, Golden- Blood Drive, 9am-2pm.

Golden Game Guild, Golden- Teach Me to Play Mondays, 6-9pm. Learn new games

New Terrain Brewing Co, Golden- Yoga on Tap 🧘 Yoga from 6-7pm, beers anytime. Get your ticket

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Boom Bingo, 7-9pm. Bingo w/ a beat

Buffalo Bill’s gravesite high atop Lookout Mountain

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See you around the next bend!