Events

FREE ADMISSION 9AM-3PM!

WHO:  Chamber of Commerce

WHAT:  Unveiling of new Buffalo Exhibit

WHERE:  At the Buffalo Bill Museum

WHEN:  1:00 PM, October 11, 2025

On October 11, 2025, the Buffalo Bill Museum of Le Claire will officially unveil their newest exhibit.

In September 2024, the Buffalo Bill Museum received a $20,000 grant from the Regional Development Authority.  The Museum used the money to completely renovate and update our playroom, designed for children 3-8 years old. 

Our major project was to demolish and clear out the alcove area at the bottom of the entrance ramp to create a permanent new exhibit space for our valuable taxidermy buffalo. The location of this new exhibit will provide a wonderful new welcoming area for our visitors.  It features two walls of original art by Jeff Lassiter, inspired by Buffalo Bill’s iconic Wild West posters.  We also installed a new audio greeting for visitors, recorded by Paula Sands.

On Saturday, October 11, at 1:00 PM, the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce will perform an official "Ribbon-Cutting".  Steve Friesen, a Buffalo Bill Historian, will do the honor of unveiling the new exhibit.  He is the retired Executive Director of the Buffalo Bill Cody Gravesite Museum in Golden Colorado.  His book, "Buffalo Bill:  Scout, Showman, Visionary" is based on research he did during his 15-year tenure at the museum.

Steve Friesen was the Director of the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave outside of Denver for 22 years. Friesen has a master’s degree in American Folk Culture from the State University of New York.

In 2011 his book Buffalo Bill:  Scout, Showman, Visionary, was published about one of the West’s truly legendary characters.  It was a finalist for a Colorado Book Award, a finalist for Best Publication by a Small Museum from the American Association of Museums, and received a Best Museum Book award from the Mountain Plains Museums Association.  His book Lakota Performers in Europe:  Their Culture and the Artifacts They Left Behind was published by University of Oklahoma Press in June 2017.  It deals with the role that wild west shows played in both preserving and promoting Lakota culture in the United States and in Europe in particular.  It received a Wrangler Award for best non-fiction book of 2017 from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.  His latest book, published in late 2023, is Galloping Gourmet:  Eating and Drinking with Buffalo Bill, which covers a little known aspect of the famous frontiersman’s life.

According to Rita Farro, Executive Director, “Buffalo Bill was America’s first international rock star – and we get thousands of visitors from all over the world.  This original art was inspired by the iconic posters from his Wild West Show.  The audio portion of the exhibit tells how a boy born in LeClaire Iowa in 1846 became the most famous person on the planet.”

On Saturday, October 11, the Buffalo Bill Museum will offer FREE admission from 9 AM – 3 PM.

Museum Members are invited to attend a reception onboard the Riverboat Twilight from 3-5.  There will be music, soft drinks, snacks, door prizes – and Mr. Friesen will make a special presentation about LeClaire’s famous son.  To support the Museum and become a member – visit our website: https://www.buffalobillmuseumleclaire.com/store

For more information and photos, visit our Facebook page HERE

2025:

Through September 30th-2025 Tugfest Pirates of the Mississippi Scavenger Hunt

We’re welcoming a lot of little pirates for our very popular special edition scavenger hunt!

Thursday, August 28 2025: The Unveiling of our NEW playroom!

August 1-September 30th 2025: Riveresta Pop-Up Exhibit!

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show June 28-29th Presented by Modern Woodmen

A large group of history reenactors from Wisconsin rode their horses into Le Claire, Iowa to present their full-blown arena experience -- "Buffalo Bill's Best of The Wild West."  This two-day extravaganza took place at Cody Elementary School -- a beautiful property across the street from Buffalo Bill's birthplace in Le Claire, Iowa.

Big Circus Band Concert May 30th

Women in History Tea-Women of LeClaire January 26th

2024:

Women in History Tea-Victorian Funeral Practices

National Congress of the Old West March 20-23rd

Buffalo Bill’s Birthday Party! February 23rd