People have been exploring the unparalleled scenery and bountiful wildlife of this corner of northwest Wyoming for millennia. Native people began visiting the region over 11,000 years ago, valuing this ecosystem for its natural resources and as a site of spiritual importance.
Europeans began to explore the area approximately 200 years ago. Most famously, in 1871, the Ferdinand V. Hayden Expedition arrived with a mission to document the wonders of Yellowstone. Photographer William Henry Jackson and painter Thomas Moran returned from the expedition with images that helped convince the U.S. Congress to establish Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872. Other parks along the Rockies soon followed, including Glacier National Park in 1910 and Grand Teton National Park in 1929.
Paintings and sculptures of these iconic parks and the wildlife thriving within their borders are presented here. This region remains a haven for artists and sight-seers drawn to its intact ecosystems, dramatic scenery, and plentiful wildlife.
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Staff Picks
Through May 10, 2026Curating this exhibit has been an exercise in collaboration, which is one of our core values at the Museum. We began by asking each staff member to make a short list of some of their favorite works in the collection. Then, the curatorial team took them to see a few of those pieces. We asked the staff to look for artworks that were not already on display and would not be part of any upcoming exhibitions. A person’s taste in art is so uniquely personal and individual to who they are. This exhibition is not only an opportunity for you to get to know our staff, but it is also a chance to discover new pieces in the permanent collection—or perhaps to see old favorites in a new light.
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Two of a Kind?
Through April 26, 2026This exhibition is an exercise in comparison. It invites visitors to consider pairs of artworks, drawn primarily from the Museum’s permanent collection, and contemplate the question posed by its title: are these artworks truly “Two of a Kind?”
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