"Buffalo Bill," William F. Cody was probably the best known American in the world during his lifetime. Having been involved in many events that shaped the American West, he formed an arena show of the western experience called Buffalo Bill’s Wild West in 1883. It toured the United States and Europe for 30 years.
Buffalo Bill helped found Cody, Wyoming in 1895, and established his TE Ranch in the area. In 1902, he built the Irma Hotel, which he called –"just the sweetest hotel that ever was." Buffalo Bill maintained two suites and an office at the hotel for his personal use.
When the Burlington Railroad completed a spur line into Cody, his plan was to have travelers stay at Buffalo Bill’s Hotels in the Rockies on their way to the east gate of Yellowstone National Park. They included the Irma Hotel in Cody, near the railroad; Wapiti Inn (a day’s wagon ride west) and Pahaska Teepee near the East gate of the park.