UI Museum of Natural History news release
In 2026, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is celebrating all things
American bison. Through a series of new exhibitions, displays and programming, the national mammal
will take center stage on the National Mall to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.
On March 11, three larger-than-life bronze bison statues will undertake a weeklong, cross-
country stampede from a foundry in Colorado to the Smithsonian Institution, where they will be
installed along the museum’s entrance on the National Mall in anticipation of the new exhibition,
“Bison: Standing Strong.” The arrival of the bronze bison marks a homecoming for the massive
mammals, who lived behind the Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, in the late 1880s.
On their way to the nation’s capital, the bronze bison will stop at several museums, including
the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History in Iowa City, Iowa, on March 15.
“These larger-than-life bronze bison depict museum specimens that literally helped turn the tide
of extinction,” said Kirk Johnson, the Sant Director of the National Museum of Natural History.
“Bringing the bronze bison to Iowa and museums across the bison’s native range emphasizes the
historic role the Smithsonian has helped play in preserving America’s natural history for future
generations.”
The bronze bison will be right at home in Iowa, which sits at the crossroads of prairie and
woodland ecosystems—two important habitats for bison. Local archaeological sites attest that Iowa’s
Indigenous Nations have relied on bison for thousands of years as vital sources of food, tools and
trade. The state’s restored prairies continue to support herds of these gargantuan grazers.
The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History is an ideal spot to learn about the past,
present and future of bison. The museum is home to historic bison specimens and artifacts as well as
several bison-themed displays, including a prairie diorama featuring specimens collected in 1915. The
museum’s collection also contains nearly 200 specimens prepared by William Temple Hornaday, who
would go on to work as the Smithsonian’s taxidermist and help lead early efforts to conserve bison. It
was Hornaday’s idea to bring bison to the National Mall and the life-like bison mounts he crafted serve
as the inspiration for the bronze bison sculptures, which were created by renowned natural history
artist Gary Staab.
“We were so proud to learn that The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and Iowa
City would be part of the bronze bison’s national journey. These sculptures represent not only an
iconic species, but a story of survival and stewardship that continues today,” said Liz Crooks, the
director of the University of Iowa’s Pentacrest Museums. “It’s a privilege to collaborate with the
Smithsonian and to invite our community to gather around this remarkable symbol of resilience, both
inside and outside of our museum.”
The bronze bison will be on public view on Clinton Street in front of the museum between 9:00
am and 3:00 pm on March 15. Inside the museum, visitors will experience a bison-focused program
featuring short talks and up-close looks at bison specimens and displays. Crooks will discuss Iowa’s
long history and connections with bison, and Smithsonian experts will share perspectives on bison
history, science, conservation, the bronze sculptures and the forthcoming exhibitions in DC. Visitors
are welcome to bid the bronze bison farewell as they depart for their next stop at 3:00 pm.
Before arriving in Iowa City, the bronze bison will stop at the Denver Museum of Nature and
Science on March 11 and 12 and the University of Nebraska State Museum—Morrill Hall in Lincoln,
Nebraska on March 14. After leaving Iowa, the sculptures will stop at the Field Museum in Chicago on
March 16 and 17 before heading to the nation’s capital. After they arrive in Washington, they will be
installed on a pair of plinths flanking the museum’s entrance on the evening of March 18 and on full
public display beginning March 19.
The bronze bison sculptures are a gift to the museum by Naoma Tate and the family of Hal
Tate. The museum’s bison exhibitions and programming received funding from the Smithsonian’s
“Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created
to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250
years.
The museum’s salute to bison will continue: “Bison: Standing Strong” will be open through
May 2029, and the bronze bison will continue to welcome museum visitors for generations to come.
About the National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is connecting people everywhere with Earth’s
unfolding story. It is one of the most visited natural history museums in the world. Opened in 1910, the
museum is dedicated to maintaining and preserving the world’s most extensive collection of natural
history specimens and human artifacts. The museum is open daily, except Dec. 25, from 10 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit the museum on its website, blog, Facebook,
LinkedIn and Instagram.
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