Imagining Bison

Bison have long captured our imaginations. In paintings, photographs, stories, and sculpture, this powerful animal represents wildness, resilience, and the spirit of the American West. The historic books, images, and objects on view are drawn from the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives’ rich collection. 

From portrayals of bison by Native artists to influential publications that fueled the early conservation movement, this display invites you to explore how ideas about America’s national mammal have endured and changed over time.