A Bronze Tribute to the World’s Most Beloved Grizzly Bear
August 28, 2026The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) will unveil and dedicate the Grizzly 399 Monument, Against All Odds, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 5 p.m., permanently installing the bronze sculpture near the Museum’s front entrance to the right of the porte-cochère. The date of 9/9 was chosen as a nod to 399 and will serve as the kick off event to this year’s Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. The public unveiling is free and open to all.
The monument depicts Grizzly 399 alongside her famous quadruplet cubs, born in 2020, and stands as a lasting tribute to a bear whose story of resilience and motherhood captivated audiences around the world. Over more than two decades, Grizzly 399 became one of the world’s most recognized grizzly bears, frequently seen near roadways in Grand Teton National Park and the surrounding region. She gave birth to a remarkable 18 cubs over her lifetime, and her descendants continue to thrive in the region. Grizzly 399 passed on October 22, 2024, after being struck by a vehicle in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyoming.
“Grizzly 399 captured hearts far beyond Wyoming, and this monument gives visitors a place to reflect on what she represented—resilience, wildness, and the fragile balance between people and the animals we share this landscape with,” says the Museum’s Executive Director Steve Seamons. “We continually strive to inspire connections with wildlife and nature, the connection that Grizzly 399 inspired in visitors around the world is unparalleled. We hope to share that legacy of coexistence with future generations, that those who cannot see her in the wild, may still marvel at her legacy.”
The heroic-scale (roughly one-and-a-half times life-size) sculpture was created under the artistic leadership of renowned wildlife sculptor Jocelyn Russell. Russell has completed over sixty monuments, including Secretariat, installed in public and private locations. Kristen Douglas-Seitz and Colleen Moore contributed to the project as members of the sculpting team. The piece began as an 8-inch preliminary maquette before being developed into a monumental bronze, cast at Adonis Bronze Foundry in Utah.
“This sculpture illustrates just how great of an impact a single animal can have,” says the Chief Curator of Art, Dr. Kennis Forte. “We are thrilled to be adding this image of Grizzly 399 onto the Museum’s Sculpture Trail—Russell and her team have created a beautiful monument to honor the legacy of this remarkable bear.” The hope is that this monument will honor Grizzly 399’s extraordinary life and inspire all who encounter her story to protect wild animals and the places they call home.
This sculpture is being donated to the Museum by The Grizzly 399 Legacy of Love Project via the non-profit Angels Without Wings, Inc. (AWW), a 501(c)(3) corporation. To learn more, please visit 399monument.com.
Event Details — September 9, 2026
The public dedication event is free and open to all and will include remarks, an artist meet-and-greet, and educational programming:
5 – 5:30 p.m. | Dedication ceremony, including remarks by renowned photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen
6 – 7 p.m. | Public presentation by artist Jocelyn Russell and Thomas D. Mangelsen in the Museum auditorium, featuring insight into the creation of the sculpture and the legacy of Grizzly 399.
