Western Swing 2013 - 13 - Trip to Red Lodge

Today, June 4, was a free day at the Western Adventure of the Diesel RV Club. However, we were encouraged to pair up with other members and participate in the photographic scavenger hunt. That involved making a trip of a few hours around the greater Cody area. Tom, Sally, and we decided to go to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and then drive to Red Lodge, Montana.

This statue of Bill Cody stands at the entrance

of the Buffalo Bill Cody Center of the West

The first stop was the Buffalo Bill Historical Center that presently houses five museums as well as a traveling exhibit of photographs from National Geographic. Since we were only allowing ourselves two hours, our visit to the History Center was limited to the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Museum of the Plains Indians, and the Museum of Western Art.

The Buffalo BIll Museum displays many artifacts about Bill Cody, the American soldier, bison hunter and showman. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US Army as a scout. He got his nickname as a result of a contract he won to supply the Kansas Pacifica Railroad with buffalo meat for the workers. One of the most colorful figures of the American Old West, Buffalo Bill became famous for the shows he organized with cowboy themes, which he toured in Great Britain and Europe as well as the United States. He loved the mountains and plains of the West and was involved in several ventures in his attempt to become a wealthy gentleman.

While walking from one area to the other we stepped outside

to see some of the aviary from a bird rescue center.

This peregrine falcon knows how to pose in spite

of the injured wing.

The display of artifacts and information about the life of the Plains Indians is an extraordinarily interesting aspect of the Historical Center. Many life-sized exhibits, displays of clothing (with intricate beadwork, wrapped porcupine quills, and leather), and photographs show the life of these Native Americans.

A diorama tells the story of the Plains Indians using

static displays and lighting effects. The photo shows

a tipi against the red sky of sundown.

Outside the Historical Center two men were preparing a chuckwagon

demonstration complete with food cooked on an open fire.

The trip to Red Lodge presented an interesting drive amid the semi-arrad desert, mountains, and hills. The change in elevation that we experienced was in excess of 1,400 feet. This change came on more than one occasion. Traveling north from Cody it is obvious how the area got it’s name. The yellow color of the rocks is most obvious. We were told by our host couple that even the Yellowstone River has a yellow tint.

Red Lodge was originally a coal boomtown with as many as 22 mines. It is in Carbon County just south of Billings. It grew to 4,000 inhabitants within the first twenty years of the area being opened to immigrants when a settlement was reached with the Crow Nation. The town sits in a deep valley through which Rock Creek flows on it’s way to the Yellowstone River. The creek has rapids with a slalom course marked. It also sits at the base of the Mt. Maurice in the Beartooth range.

During the Depression, many mines closed however one remained open (Bearcreek's Smith Mine) until a mining disaster claimed the lives of 74 men in 1943. At that point in time the mine was permanently closed. Many of the mine’s buildings are still standing but are not open for visitors. The town of 2,200 now caters to tourists who ski in the winter or visit Yellowstone in the summer when the road through Beartooth Pass is open.

Since we were out over lunch, we stopped at the Bridge Creek Backcountry Kitchen and Wine Bar, a local restaurant we found to be an excellent place with local cuisine. We had bison burgers that were cooked to perfection. We started to eat at an establishment that had been recommended by a friend but decided on the restaurant because it had a four-star rating by Yelp. We’re glad we did. We’ll definitely eat there if in the area again. By the way, they also have a coffee bar and gift shop in the event you’re not hungry if you ever visit.

Bridge Creek Backcountry Kitchen & Wine Bar is an interesting

restaurant with mountain cuisine. Counter service is available

at the front of the building and table service is at the back.

The open kitchen is in the center. Good food is only

 a few steps away

The main street through town is under construction as witnessed

in this photograph taken today.

On our journey back we pulled over at one point so Byron could take

this photo of a cattle ranch where six calves were down for

their afternoon nap.

The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway and Beartooth Highway

were still not open as yet. The two form part of

a triangular link that join Cody with Cooke City

and Red Lodge Montana. When they open later this 

week they will probably look a lot like this until the nearly July.

Chief Joseph connects with Beartooth Highway, a route

Charles Kuralt, formerly with CBS, called the most scenic

highway in America; he should know since

he had been “On the Road.” Both stretches of highway are

listed as All-American Roads. Had we gone, it is unlikely

we would have seen much today because the clouds

covered the mountains with a ceiling of about 7,500 feet.