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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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Bison-tennial: From Colonization to Rematriation

Through August 23, 2026

Bison-tennial explores the profound influence of bison on the history, cultures, and landscapes of the North American West, especially within the United States. The exhibition traces their story from pre-colonial times through westward expansion, the near-destruction of the herds, and today’s growing restoration and rematriation efforts.

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He Xi Chasing Fish
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From Sea to Shining Sea: Wildlife Above & Below the Waves

Through August 23, 2026

Displayed in the King Gallery, From Sea to Shining Sea: Wildlife Above & Below the Waves celebrates the rich diversity of aquatic life across the continent—from freshwater rivers and wetlands to coastal shores and open seas.

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What People Are Saying
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"I have been to Europe multiple times—studied art in so many places—never saw anything so fantastic as this! Stunning and jaw-dropping, thank you!"
— Maggie A.
"Thank you for this glorious dedication to our "wild" life and human connection. Moving, emotional, and informative, with beauty within it all. "
— Lynne R.
"Architecturally stunning, thoughtful, interesting, educational, superb art and exhibits. A memorable experience. Thank you!"
— Susan B.
"I've never seen anything like this and I'm grateful to have stopped by. The extinct bird display nearly made me cry with the bird calls. Beautiful!!! "
— Marley S.
"This museum was so intimate and inspiring. As a former art teacher, the children's center made me want to have a classroom again!"
— Ellan M.
"Thank you for making this stop fun for my five kids. It kept them engaged, which allowed me to enjoy looking too!"
— Katie V.
"Super cool experience, I enjoyed the paintings and the thick paint textures! It made me feel like I was immersed in the natural environment!"
— Carmel G.
"BEST Museum I've ever been to! The hands on and special spaces for children were amazing and drew young people of all ages! Great job!"
— Judy G.