The museum display that saved a species—and then disappeared
In short: In the 1880s, six taxidermied bison became a cultural sensation at the Smithsonian, sparking a national movement to prevent the species' extinction. But these iconic specimens vanished without a trace, prompting a modern-day detective mission to recover them.
The search for the missing bison began as part of the 'Our Shared Future: 250' initiative, a Smithsonian-wide project commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary. The investigation traces back to Montana in the 1880s, where a conservator captured six specimens before the American bison were nearly wiped out.
The journey to locate the lost artifacts involved collaboration between museum leadership and tribal partners, including the Fort Peck Tribal Bison program. This quest explores how a single diorama could influence conservation history and what happened to these symbols of the American West.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Missing Bison
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