The house was purchased as a tourist attraction by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and was moved to Cody, Wyoming, Buffalo Bill's adopted hometown, in 1933.

Of necessity, groups had to spend the night at Cody, in the railroad's Burlington Inn next to the station, about two miles from town.

The house was meant to provide the travelers with a diversion that would not require a trip into town.

By 1947 the rail tour business was declining and the Burlington Inn was to be demolished.

A lean-to kitchen addition to the rear did not make the journey from Iowa to Wyoming.