Julius Meyer

As you may know, I work at the National Museum of American Jewish History.

I like it when I find Jews in unlikely places in early American history. Jewish soldiers at Valley Forge, Jewish explorers in Kentucky and Tennessee with Daniel Boone. That kind of thing. It reminds us that the United States was founded as a Pluralistic society.

Here are some photos of Julius Meyer, the Jewish answer to Buffalo Bill Cody.

Julius Meyer was born in Bromberg, Prussia in1839. He emigrated to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1867 and began developing acquaintances with Plains Indians. He was reportedly able to speak six Indian languages. He served as an interpreter for Gen. George Crook and later opened an Indian Curiosity shop, called the "Indian Wigwam" in Omaha.

From the Nebraska State Historical Society website.