Bronze Bison Statues Unveiled for America's 250th Birthday

Three life-size bronze bison statues take permanent display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:18am

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In celebration of America's 250th birthday, three bronze bison statues, larger than life-size, have been unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The statues, created by paleoartist Gary Staab in Kearney, Missouri, depict a bull, cow, and calf bison and are meant to honor the national mammal of the United States, which was officially designated as such in 2016.

Why it matters

The bison was nearly driven to extinction in the 1800s, but conservation efforts have helped the species recover. The bronze statues serve as a tribute to this important American icon and the success of wildlife conservation in the country.

The details

Sculptor Gary Staab created the three bronze bison statues over the course of about four months. He first sculpted the full-size pieces in foam and clay before they were cast in bronze and assembled at a foundry in Colorado. The statues, which are larger than real-life bison, depict a bull, cow, and calf to represent the different members of the herd.

  • The bronze bison statues made their public debut in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 22, 2026.
  • The bison was officially designated as the national mammal of the United States in 2016 under a law signed by former President Obama.

The players

Gary Staab

A paleoartist who works full-time in Kearney, Missouri to create sculptures of animals and historical artifacts for museums around the world. He designed and sculpted the three bronze bison statues.

Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History

The museum in Washington, D.C. where the three bronze bison statues have taken up permanent display to honor the national mammal of the United States.

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What they’re saying

“It's a wonderful story of conservation working, it's a story of people seeing a need and getting behind that to conserve an animal that is specific to North America.”

— Gary Staab, Paleoartist

What’s next

The bronze bison statues will remain on permanent display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History as part of the museum's exhibits celebrating America's 250th birthday.

The takeaway

The unveiling of these life-size bronze bison statues is a testament to the successful conservation efforts that have helped the bison, once nearly driven to extinction, become the national mammal of the United States. The statues serve as a fitting tribute to this iconic American animal as the country celebrates its 250th birthday.