William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, one of the most iconic figures of the American frontier era, experienced an unusually delayed and controversial burial following his death on January 10, 1917, in Denver, Colorado.He died of kidney failure at a time when his fortune had significantly diminished.

Although Cody had originally expressed a desire in his 1906 will to be buried in Cody, Wyoming, overlooking Cedar Mountain, a later 1913 will granted his widow, Louisa Cody, the authority to decide his final resting place.Louisa chose Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado, a scenic site overlooking the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains.However, the burial was postponed for nearly six months due to winter conditions that left the ground frozen solid and unsuitable for excavation.As a result, Cody’s embalmed body was stored under guard in a Denver mortuary until spring conditions allowed for a proper interment.The decision triggered a heated dispute between Wyoming and Colorado.Wyoming residents felt entitled to his remains due to his deep connection to the town of Cody, which he founded.Allegations even surfaced claiming that Colorado interests may have influenced the decision through financial incentives.Tensions escalated to the point where there were threats to steal Cody’s body and return it to Wyoming.On June 3, 1917, Cody was finally buried in a highly attended public funeral at Lookout Mountain, with an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 people present.To prevent any future attempts to disturb the grave, his casket was sealed within a reinforced concrete vault.

Decades later, rumors persisted about possible body relocation or substitution prior to burial, and in 1948 a reward was even offered for the theft of his remains, underscoring the lasting controversy surrounding his final resting place.