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Yellowstone National Park Through the Lens of Time

May 21, 2016 - August 28, 2016

This exhibit of National Park art photography compares photos taken by William Henry Jackson’s Yellowstone photography of 1871 with local photographer Bradly Boner’s contemporary shots taken from the same vantage point, celebrating the work of both photographers as it validates more than a century of conservation efforts. These photographs tell the success story of the National Park Service’s efforts to preserve landscapes considered especially valuable.

TOP No. 233. TOWER FALLS, near view from near its base. About 200 yards above its entrance into the Yellowstone, [Tower Creek] pours over an abrupt descent of 156 feet. BOTTOM The stones and boulders in Tower Creek as it flows away from Tower Fall have been shifted by decades of spring runoffs. The columns of volcanic breccia, which give the cascade and creek their name, have crumbled over time; recent photographs indicate the large, broad column immediately to the viewer's right of the waterfall in Jackson's photograph fell in the late 1990s, obscuring the large boulder at the base of the falls and changing the course of the creek below. Other recent photographs indicate the taller spire above and behind it, known as Sulphur Rock, crumbled in the early to mid-2000s.
TOP No. 252. GRAND CAÑON. West side, one mile below the falls, looking down. BOTTOM A pine tree bisects the scene from where Jackson made this photograph looking down the Grand Canyon from near the Grand View overlook on the west side of the canyon, and a large chunk of the stone tower on the right side of Jackson's image has fractured off, exposing lighter, less weathered rock underneath.
TOP No. 214. WHITE MOUNTAIN HOT SPRINGS, Group of lower basins. BOTTOM Several of Jackson's images at Mammoth Hot Springs, including this of Minerva Terrace, were re-photographed at a wider field of view in order to show almost a century and a half of growth and expansion. The hot springs at Mammoth can deposit anywhere from a trace to one meter of travertine, or calcium carbonate, per year. Combined, the hot springs at Mammoth are estimated to flow at a rate of about 500 gallons per minute, leaving behind more than 2 tons of travertine every day.
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A Conceptual Thread

Through November 2, 2025

Various types of textile art—quilting, weaving, tapestry, and knitting—will be featured in this exhibit, each showcasing its unique ability to tell stories about wildlife and nature. The exhibition will also include a large communal loom in the Wapiti Gallery; Museum visitors will have the opportunity to contribute to the exhibition by weaving on this loom during their visit.

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Staff Picks

Through May 10, 2026

Curating 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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What People Are Saying
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"Phenomenal gallery! Exquisitely curated! Must-see highlight of our trip. P.S. Lunch was also delicious!"
— Jen R.
"Amazing collection of art. This is truly a special place!"
— David L.
"Absolutely incredible! We will be back!"
— Sebastian D.
"Love the variety of art, the historic documentation, and how attitudes changed and developed about wilderness and wildlife. Plus, wonderful interactive areas!"
— Bill S.
"Lunch was fab - the trout po' boy and lettuce wraps, wow!"
— Pamela Ann S.
"This is one of my happy places. I stop here every time I'm in Jackson."
— Monica M.
"Best food in town and 5-star service! We'll be coming back again! "
— Anna T.
"Not only was the museum interesting, the all gender bathroom was great. Thank you for thinking about LGBTQ and disabled people!"
— Bishnu A.