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New Inductees Honored in the Exhibition “The Masonic Hall of Fame: Extraordinary Freemasons in American History”
by Hilary Anderson Stelling, Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
Buffalo Bill In his early 20s, William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s (1846-1917) exploits as a scout and hunter were featured in a novel and in a stage show—in which he played himself. Drawing on his theatrical experience, in 1883, Cody produced his own show. This outdoor extravaganza showcased animals, cowboys, sharpshooters, frontiersmen, and Native American warriors in thrilling demonstrations of skill and dramatic re-enactments of historical events. Millions enjoyed his nostalgic presentation of the frontier; his vision helped shape the national view of the American West. Buffalo Bill used his celebrity to share his views, including his support for the preservation of Native American culture, wildlife conservation, and women’s suffrage. Cody became a Mason in North Platte, Nebraska, his long-time home base, in 1870. He joined the Scottish Rite in 1894 in New York City.
William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody enclosed these tickets in a letter inviting a friend to come see “the best show we have ever put together.” Tickets, 1912. Gift of Robert W. Harbeson Trust, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, A1983/018/008.
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ScottishRiteNMJ.org
“…the West of the old times, with its strong characters, its stern battles, and its tremendous stretches of loneliness, can never be blotted from my mind.” —Buffalo Bill Cody, 1879
William Frederick Cody, ca. 1875. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.
The Northern Light
