Cody, Wyoming · Founded 1902 · Building: 1902
Buffalo Bill Cody's 1902 Cody hotel, named for his daughter Irma and centered on a storied French-made cherrywood backbar.
The Irma Hotel was built by William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody in 1902 and named for his youngest daughter, Irma. Designed by Alfred Wilderman Woods, the hotel opened to the public on November 1, 1902. Its best-known interior feature is a French-made cherrywood backbar traditionally described as a gift from Queen Victoria—an attribution supported by state and hotel sources but challenged by another account.
William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody has the Irma Hotel built in Cody and names it for his daughter Irma.
Source: Nebraska State Historical Society, "Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel"; Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, "Irma Hotel"
The Irma Hotel opens to the public.
Source: The Irma Hotel official history
The Irma Hotel holds its grand opening celebration.
Source: The Irma Hotel official history
Architect Alfred Wilderman Woods's hotel design is completed, with the original building constructed for Buffalo Bill Cody.
Source: Nebraska State Historical Society, "Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel"; The Irma Hotel, "About Us"
The Irma Hotel is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Source: Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, "Irma Hotel"
The Irma Hotel remains open at 1192 Sheridan Avenue as a hotel, restaurant, bar, and historic Cody landmark.
Source: The Irma Hotel official website; Cody Yellowstone, "Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel"
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
The Nebraska State Historical Society, Wyoming SHPO, Cody Yellowstone, and the hotel history agree that Buffalo Bill Cody had the hotel built in 1902 and named it for his daughter Irma.
The Nebraska State Historical Society and the Irma Hotel's official history identify Alfred Wilderman Woods as the architect of the 1902 hotel.
Wyoming SHPO and the hotel say Queen Victoria gave Cody the French-made bar after a command performance by Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. A contrary research account says Cody likely bought the bar in France a few years later. The bar's French origin and early installation are well supported; the royal-gift provenance remains contested.
Wyoming SHPO and the hotel state that the bar was made in France and installed in the hotel saloon at the 1902 opening. This review did not inspect shipping manifests, customs records, invoices, photographs, or installation records.
Historical sources identify the 1902 building as a hotel designed by Alfred Wilderman Woods and opened to the public. It was not built as a private Cody family residence.
Wyoming SHPO records the Irma Hotel's National Register listing date as April 3, 1973.
The active hotel website and Cody Yellowstone tourism listing identify the Irma Hotel at 1192 Sheridan Avenue as an operating hotel, restaurant, and bar.
The Irma Hotel opened on November 18, 1902.
The hotel opened to the public on November 1, 1902. A grand opening celebration was held on November 18.
Source: The Irma Hotel official history
Queen Victoria's gift of the cherrywood bar is conclusively documented by royal ledgers and Buffalo Bill's correspondence.
Wyoming SHPO and hotel materials preserve the Queen Victoria gift story, but a contrary research account says Cody likely purchased the bar in France. This review did not locate royal gift ledgers or Cody correspondence resolving the provenance.
Source: Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, "Irma Hotel"; The Irma Hotel, "Gallery"; Barbara's Book House, "So Much For Another Legend"
The Irma Hotel was built as Buffalo Bill Cody's private home.
The building was designed and opened as a public hotel in 1902.
Source: Nebraska State Historical Society, "Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel"; The Irma Hotel official history
The Burlington Railroad's completion to Yellowstone was the reason Buffalo Bill built the Irma Hotel.
The hotel is historically associated with Cody and Yellowstone travel, but this review did not locate a source proving the candidate's specific Burlington Railroad causation claim.
Source: No primary or strong independent source located in this review
The Irma survived as a downtown Cody hotel because its Buffalo Bill connection, historic architecture, and restaurant/bar operations gave it a role beyond lodging. The building's continuing use near Yellowstone country and its National Register recognition helped preserve it as a public-facing landmark, even though current ownership and some of its most repeated artifact stories require further documentation.
William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody built The Irma Hotel in 1902 and named it for his daughter Irma. Historical sources identify Alfred Wilderman Woods as the hotel architect.
The Irma Hotel opened to the public on November 1, 1902. Its grand opening celebration followed on November 18, 1902, according to the hotel's historical materials.
Wyoming historic-preservation records and the Irma Hotel say Queen Victoria gave Buffalo Bill Cody the French-made cherrywood bar after a command performance. A counteraccount says Cody likely bought it in France, so the bar is historic but its royal-gift provenance remains disputed.
Yes. The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office records that The Irma Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1973.
Yes. The Irma Hotel is operating at 1192 Sheridan Avenue in Cody as a hotel, restaurant, and bar. Check the hotel's official website for current room, dining, and seasonal-event information.
Current ownership could not be independently established in this review. The hotel is actively operating, but no current deed, Wyoming corporate filing, lodging-license record, liquor-license record, or recent ownership reporting was located identifying the current owner or legal operating entity.
1192 Sheridan Ave, Cody, WY 82414
(307) 587-4221
The Irma operates as a hotel, restaurant, and bar; check current room availability, dining hours, and seasonal entertainment directly before visiting.