Three larger-than-life bronze bison now guard the National Mall side of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, lining the main entrance on raised plinths like an honor guard. The bull, cow and calf were installed the evening of March 18 and opened to public viewing on Thursday, March 19, creating a dramatic new arrival scene as the museum gears up for a major spring exhibition on the species’ comeback. Smithsonian Institution
According to the museum, the trio was designed by natural-history artist Gary Staab and donated by Naoma Tate and the family of Hal Tate, with the forms modeled on specimens from the Smithsonian’s Hornaday collections. In a statement, Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the National Museum of Natural History, called bison “truly an American tale,” citing their ancient origins, collapse in numbers and unlikely resurgence. The bronzes, perched on plinths that flank the entrance, are intended to be a highly visible landmark for anyone walking the Mall. Smithsonian Institution
How the sculptures made the trip
The massive figures were cast at Art Castings of Colorado in Loveland, then sent on a weeklong cross-country journey that doubled as a mini tour through parts of the bison’s historic range. The foundry shipped the bronzes in pieces, which were later reassembled for installation in Washington. Along the way, the convoy stopped in Denver, Lincoln and Iowa City, and made a two-day appearance outside the Field Museum in Chicago so Midwestern onlookers could check out the herd on its way to the capital. Time Out Chicago
What the museum will show
The outdoor herd is the lead-in for the museum’s new exhibition, “Bison: Standing Strong,” which is slated to open May 7 and remain on view through May 2029. Inside, visitors will find a mounted bull, fossils that include a roughly 12,000-year-old vertebra pierced by a projectile point, and the giant skull of the extinct Bison latifrons. The show also incorporates Indigenous objects, an immersive prairie soundscape and hands-on elements that explore the animal’s cultural importance and ecological impact. The exhibition is part of Smithsonian programming tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary and will be accompanied by related talks and educational events. Smithsonian Institution
When and where to see them
The bronze bison now anchor the entrance near 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW and officially went on view March 19, quickly drawing onlookers from the Mall. Each sculpture weighs in at roughly 2,500 pounds and sits on a protective plinth that still keeps the animals close enough for photos, sketching and up-close inspection. The museum and its partner organizations plan talks and programs tied to the new exhibition throughout the spring and summer. The Washington Post
