Behind the Scenes at the Cody Firearms Museum

At the Cody Firearms Museum, Curator Danny Michael brings a lifelong passion for military history to his work. His early interest in historical non-fiction led naturally to a focus on firearms—key artifacts in the story of military history. Today, the museum holds over 7,000 guns in its collection, forming part of the 8,000 firearms housed at the Center of the West. With around 4,000 on display at any given time, it’s the largest public exhibition of firearms in the world.

Visitors often ask to see Jeremiah Johnson’s rifle—yes, the real one from the legendary mountain man, not just the Hollywood version. But one of Danny’s favorite surprises is the museum’s collection of firearms personally owned by Oliver Winchester himself, including a beautifully ornate gun made for him in Paris—a piece that challenges the notion that Winchester was just a businessman.

For Danny, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is hearing visitors say their trip to Cody was a bucket-list experience. “It’s incredibly humbling,” he says, “and inspiring to be part of something that leaves such a lasting impression.”