In Bill Bryson's "The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America," he reveals an interesting bit of history regarding Buffalo Bill and his origins. Though the townspeople of Cody, Wyoming, promote Buffalo Bill as one of their own, Bryson reveals that he was actually born in Le Claire, Iowa, in 1846. This misrepresentation serves a commercial purpose for Cody, which has gone to the extent of relocating Buffalo Bill's birthplace to their town, despite the inaccuracy of their claims.

Furthermore, Bryson notes that Cody is home to another notable figure, artist Jackson Pollock, who is also a native son. However, despite Pollock's significant contributions to the art world, the town seems to overlook his legacy, possibly due to his lack of connection to the buffalo-hunting culture popularized by Buffalo Bill. This contrast illustrates how communities often embrace certain figures while sidelining others based on their alignment with local narratives.