Native Soul Connection

Arapahoe man Yellow Magpie. 1898 Indian Congress. Photo by Frank A. Rinehart

BUFFALO BILL CODY at age 64, 1910. William F. Cody was then perhaps the most famous American in the world. By 1900, an estimated 1 billion words had been printed about him. Cody was a Civil War veteran, scout, buffalo hunter, showman.

In 1872, Cody appeared in a stage play of fictional exploits of his life. Cody realized the money-making potential of showmanship. Formed in 1883, Buffalo Bill"s Wild West show toured with up to 600 people, 400 horses, and 20 buffalo.

During 30 years, Cody"s extravaganza was seen in American, England, and Europe by 70 million people! Buffalo Bill’s mythology of the American West influenced generations. Photo by Burke & Koretke. Text and small-file Photoshop restoration of image by Gary Coffrin.

MILES CITY, circa 1969. The Occident grain elevators, Northern Pacific Wool Warehouse, and underpass (completed in 1932) were in view. To the right of the KOA billboard was a sign for Miles Community College. (Click image to enlarge.) Started in 1939, the school was originally Custer County Junior College and operated out of a few rooms in the high school. In 1957, the school moved to the Milwaukee Railroad Depot. In 1967, the College moved to a new campus at the present location.

Carl"s Conoco, Coffrin’s Old West Gallery, and Custer County High School were out of view to the left. The clearance of 12 ft. 5 in. was one foot higher than the current clearance. For 12 years I saw this area daily. What thoughts does this 1969 photo bring to mind for you?