CODY MAY GET SMITHSONIAN ARTIFACTS

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 22, 2008 | by --

Wyoming - The Buffalo Bill Historical Center may soon be displaying rare and priceless artifacts on loan from the Smithsonian Institution.

The Cody center announced Friday that it has been accepted as an affliate of the Smithsonian, a status granted to 159 museums in 40 states, Panama and Puerto Rico.

The Smithsonian's affliate program allows nonprofit and state- run organizations access to Smithsonian collections and resources, including artifacts from among the 136 million objects in its collections.

"Not only does the center benefit from the collections and resources of the Smithsonian, but we also benefit from the expertise of those here at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center," said Laura Hansen, a regional coordinator for the Smithsonian. Hansen was in Cody on Friday to announce the affiliation at a meeting of the BBHC board of trustees.

"This designation is a first for a Wyoming museum, and we look forward to significant partnerships with the Smithsonian for years to come," said Bruce Eldredge, executive director for the center.

Eldredge called the affliation an "important step that will help bring collections, scholars and other resources of the nation's museum to Cody and the Wyoming region."

Hansen said the affliate program began after the strong positive response to a 1996 traveling exhibit that celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian, based in Washington, D.C.

With less than 3 percent of the Smithsonian's artifacts on display at any time, the institution created the program as a "way to take the artifacts out of Washington," Hansen said.