Buffalo Bill Historical Center begins winter hours November 1

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center changes to its new winter schedule beginning November 1. The center will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday; closed Monday through Wednesday. The winter schedule is in effect through March 31, 2009.

In addition, the historical center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s days. However, to accommodate local residents and visitors during the holidays, the center is open the additional days of December 22 through 24, and December 29 through 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors are reminded of the special family rate of $40 which admits one or two adults with children 17 and under living in the same household. As always, historical center members receive free admission. For more information on hours and rates, as well as special events, trip planning tips, online collections, and more, visit the center’s Web site at www.bbhc.org.

Start any journey into the American West at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 31. On November 1, winter hours begin, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday; closed Monday through Wednesday. Devoted to western cultural and natural history, the center is comprised of the Buffalo Bill Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Museum of Natural History, and McCracken Research Library. For general information, visit www.bbhc.org or call 307.587.4771.

- 30 -

Buffalo Bill Historical Center to receive National Medal for Museum and Library Service at White House ceremony

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center announced today that First Lady Laura Bush will award the center the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries, at a White House ceremony October 7. Each year, the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in coordination with the White House, presents the National Medal to five museums and five libraries that have helped make their communities better places to live. In addition to the National Medal, each winning institution receives a $10,000 award.

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center received the award for, among other programs, its Museum Adventures project, which brings together its five museums to offer arts and humanities programming that meets the needs of students in isolated communities; its Plains Indian Museum Powwow that attracts more than 5,000 visitors from around the globe each year; and its Lunchtime Expeditions program that focuses on the natural history of the Greater Yellowstone region. Through these activities and other important initiatives, the center examines and interprets the art, culture, history, and natural history of the American West.

As soon as the award was announced, officials were quick to congratulate the center.

“I want to thank our entire region for its ongoing support of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center,” said Bruce Eldredge, the center’s Executive Director and CEO. “We and the Cody area have a long history of supporting each other, and that support has turned into this exceptional national recognition of our museum by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Through good times and bad, we have always worked together for the betterment of our community. In short, this award belongs to all these folks.”

“The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is immensely deserving of the 2008 National Medal because of its long-standing commitment to public service and educational outreach,” said U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming), who nominated the center for the award. “This is the most prestigious national accolade a museum can receive. I am pleased the Institute of Museum and Library Services is recognizing the center as one of the best in the country for outstanding community contributions.”

“We in Wyoming know just how important museums like the Buffalo Bill Historical Center are to the heart of our rural communities. They preserve our history and provide residents with cultural enrichment opportunities and invaluable public services. I am proud of all that the Buffalo Bill Historical Center has done for Cody, the Big Horn Basin, and our state. Congratulations to everyone at the museum for winning the 2008 National Medal,” Enzi said.

“I congratulate the Buffalo Bill Historical Center on this outstanding achievement,” said U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming). “I am thrilled to see the Buffalo Bill Historical Center honored for its efforts in educating the public about the rich history, natural beauty, and diverse culture of Wyoming and the American West.”

“The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is truly an organization deserving of such a high honor,” said U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY-At Large). “Its work in Cody brings to life the history of this wild-west town and recreates the adventures of Buffalo Bill Cody. These exhibits also honor the culture of Wyoming’s Plains Indians, celebrate western art, and represent our great state’s outdoor traditions. It has been my pleasure working with this organization to advance their work and I commend them on receiving the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.”

“By its example, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center shows us the kind of influence and impact that museums can have on community life. Through its innovative programs and active partnerships, the BBHC addresses the urgent and changing needs of the community it serves,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, IMLS Director.

This is the second year that IMLS has awarded medals to 10 institutions. In previous years, the National Medal was known as the National Award for Museum and Library Service and was awarded to three museums and three libraries.

The other winners of the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service are:

• .      The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA
  • .      The General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, Crawfordsville, IN
• .      The Jane Stern Dorado Community Library, Inc., Dorado, Puerto Rico
• .      The Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO
• .      The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, New York, NY
• .      The Miami-Dade Public Library System, Miami, FL
• .      The Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, FL
• .      The Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
• .      The Skokie Public Library, Skokie, IL
  
  

Media availability: A community member whose life has been positively affected by the center is available for interviews. Please contact Lee Haines at 307.578.4014 or Marguerite House at 307.578.4137. Members of the press interested in attending the White House ceremony should contact IMLS Public Affairs Officer Jeannine Mjoseth at jmjoseth@imls.gov or 202.653.4632.

 About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. In cooperation with state and local organizations, it works at the national level to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about IMLS, please visit www.imls.gov.

Start any journey into the American West at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 31. Devoted to western cultural and natural history, the center is comprised of the Buffalo Bill Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Museum of Natural History, and McCracken Research Library. For general information, visit www.bbhc.org or call 307.587.4771.

-30-