publications

Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel

William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody helped found Cody, Wyoming, in 1895, and in 1902, had the Irma Hotel, named for his daughter, built there. Cody maintained two suites and an office at the hotel for his personal use. Designed by Alfred W. Woods, a Lincoln, Nebraska, church architect, the Irma Hotel is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lincoln Trade Review on August 16, 1902, called the new hotel “a Lincoln institution, because it is designed by a Lincoln architect, built by Lincoln men of material furnished from Lincoln under the supervision of Lincoln builders.”

The Review said: “Colonel Cody was induced by the Burlington to build this hotel at its Cody line terminal to accommodate tourists. When the hotel is completed the Cody line of the Burlington will be the most attractive and convenient route to reach the Yellowstone Park, distant fifty miles. The architectural designing of the hotel was done by Mr. Alfred W. Woods of Lincoln, who began work last fall. The plans are for a two-story building, 75×125 feet, containing fifty rooms. The first story is of native boulders of all shapes, sizes and colors, uncut-just as they were picked up in the vicinity. The second story is of native brown range stone. The building will cost in the neighborhood of $60,000.

“The general contract was let to Stephens Bros., of Lincoln, under estimates of $37,000. The contract for plumbing, heating, electric wiring and gas-plant went to the Pomerene Plumbing company, of Lincoln, for about $8,000. Searles & Chapin, of Lincoln, furnished $3,500 worth of lumber on the job, on which the mill work was done by the Stephens Bros. in their Lincoln planing mill. R. S. Young, of Lincoln, furnished six cars of cement, lime, hardwall plaster and mortar color for about $1,000. Western Glass and Paint company, of Lincoln, will furnish glass and paint amounting to about $1,000. Steelwork is furnished by N. Westover & Co., of Lincoln, worth $500; cast iron work amounting to $500 is furnished by Reddig, Mossholder & Co.’s foundry at Lincoln. The Geiser Manufacturing company, of Lincoln, furnish cornice work, and the Nichols Roofing company, of Lincoln, will put on the roof. Rudge & Guenzel, of Lincoln, furnish two tons of nails; the Lincoln Hardware company, of Lincoln, furnish $550 worth of other hardware. The decorating job has not yet been let, but will be done by some Lincoln firm. Practically all the carpenters, bricklayers, stone-cutters and other workmen are Lincoln men.

“This hotel when finished will be the finest of its size in the United States, for that is what Colonel Cody’s intentions are. The temper of Colonel Cody may be judged from the following extract taken from a letter to Alfred W. Wood[s], the architect:

“‘As long as we are bound to have a hotel, lets have a dandy. I am going to spare no expense in furnishing it. It must be a gem. I have engaged a Hoffman House cook and professional waiters. I am going to run this hotel myself if I have to keep the Wild West show running winter and summer to keep it going. No renter need apply.'”

 

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

Other Publications

The Bachelors’ Protective Union of Kearney

When the Bachelors' Protective Union gave a gala reception for two of its newly married, former members and their brides in March of 1890, the social club for young, ...

U.S. Weather Bureau in 1890s Nebraska

The U.S. Weather Bureau was established by an act of Congress on October 1, 1890. It took over the weather service that had been established in the office of the Chief ...

Canning the Way to Victory

During American participation in World War I the U.S. Food Administration, under the direction of Herbert Hoover, launched a massive campaign to persuade Americans to ...

The Shoemaker’s Ashes

"Edward Kuehl, one of the most peculiar characters that ever lived in Omaha, or anywhere else, was found dead in his bed last night in the back room of his place of ...

Crazy Horse Surrender Ledger Foreward

Red Dog, an Oglala Lakota who lived at the Red Cloud Agency, Nebraska, 1876-77 (Nebraska State Historical Society RG2955.ph).   In the summer of 1876, following the ...

Darryl F. Zanuck

Darryl F. Zanuck Darryl F. Zanuck (1902-1979), a native Nebraskan, produced some of Hollywood's most important and controversial films. He helped found 20th Century Fox ...

The Burlington’s Profitable Pork Special

Nebraska railroads were much concerned with developing an adequate economy in the areas they served. The Burlington, for example, had a long history of caring for the ...

Bungalow Filling Stations

After the giant Standard Oil Company was broken into thirty-four separate companies in 1911, the newly independent Standard Oil of Nebraska dominated the state's market ...

The Bull Fight

This is the perfect time of year for a visit to the old fishin' hole. But a group of fisherfolk from Plainview discovered that this bucolic pastime sometimes has ...

Buffalo Soldiers West

African-American soldiers on the western frontier are the focus of an exhibit at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln. Buffalo Soldiers West, on loan from the Colorado ...

Protection for Buffalo

The extermination of the buffalo on the Plains occurred largely between 1870 and 1885. The Nebraska State Journal of Lincoln on February 1, 1874, editorialized in vain ...

Buffalo Hunting

In late October 1877 young Rolf Johnson and three friends left their homes in Phelps County, Nebraska, for a buffalo hunt in northeastern Colorado. The hunt was not very ...
About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.