As you drive towards Jackson, Wyoming, a line of what appear to be five elk sedately walk over the clumps of rocks, the magnificent bull gazing across the valley. From a distance, they seem alive. However, when you get closer, you realize that they are actually bronze statues, entitled, “Wapiti Trail,” (by artist Bart Walter), announcing that you have arrived at the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

Blending into the brush on East Gros Ventre Butte, the irregular lines of the 51,000 square foot museum, built of Arizona sandstone, look like a fort, high on the hill. Above it, mule tail deer graze peacefully while sassy marmots scurry through the rocks. Across the highway is the National Elk Refuge where over 5,000 elk spend the winter.   In addition to the ‘Wapiti Trail,’ other life-size bronze sculptures dot the hillside including a bald eagle, a bear waiting for salmon, bison and a powerful big horned sheep (The Emperor by Dan Ostermiller).

The brainchild of co-founders Joffa and Bill Kerry, who contributed their incredible art collection amassed over decades, the Museum (originally named ‘Wildlife of the American West Art Museum’) was on Jackson’s Town Square.  It quickly outgrew its premises, and a new facility was built (opened Sept 1994) to house the 14 galleries and over 5,000 paintings, sculptures and works of art. The US Senate designated the Museum as an official ‘national’ museum, the highest honor that can be awarded. There are only 20 such designated museums in the US including the Smithsonian. The Museum’s mission is to “collect, display, interpret and preserve the highest quality North American wildlife art, supplemented by wildlife art found throughout the world” and “enrich and inspire appreciation and knowledge of humanity’s relationship with nature.”

Today the Museum houses works by more than 350 artists including Georgia O’Keeffe, John Audubon, John Clymer, and Carl Runguis. As you enter the Museum from the top, a vast circular hall lies at your feet.  Cutouts of animals seen in the area – bison, elk, bear, fish -decorate the ceiling above you. In an alcove near the Rising Sage café stands an immense, 23-ft high colorful totem pole. The work of Native American artist, Marvin Oliver, the sculpture depicts the Tetons — the place where legends are born — and incorporates glass, copper, and bronze in the design. Gazing at the totem pole your eyes are drawn upwards to the skylight above and the vastness beyond.

The exhibits are beautifully arranged. In the American Bison Gallery, you can explore the relationship between man and bison in America between the 17th and 19th centuries; in the JKM Collection, marvel at portions of the Joffa and Bill Kerr collection, which include art depicting the American West as well as the animals of North America.  Carl Rungius is considered by many to be the “Old Master” of North American wildlife art. The Museum contains the largest collection of the publicly held works, which focus on the wildlife of Wyoming as well as his work in Banff, Alberta, Canada. An exhibit of his easel and palette, standing in the middle of the display bring it to life. You almost expect him to walk in and start painting. The John Clymer Studio recreates the artist’s Jackson Hole studio. It is a visually-rich display that includes Native American costumes, animal skulls, artifacts, a stuffed bear, guns, paintings, and books. Clymer used many of these in his work which focused on America’s frontier.

In addition to its permanent collections, the Museum has numerous temporary exhibits. During our visit one of the curators invited us to visit an exhibit of “Rembrandt Bugatti and the Antwerp School,’ which he was in the process of dismantling; he wanted to be sure that we saw everything the museum had on display, even if the exhibit had already closed.

The Museum makes a concerted effort to interest and excite people of all ages, including children and young adults. School classes regularly come to the museum to learn about wildlife art and to create their own. Their work is proudly exhibited in one room of the museum. As you wrap up your visit, step out on the Sculpture Garden Terrace, overlooking the National Elk Refuge, and enjoy the spectacular views of the Gros Ventre Range and Sheep Mountain. The National Museum of Wildlife Art is a mirror of what you will see in nature as you wander through Grand Teton National Park.

IF YOU GO
The National Museum of Wildlife Art is located on Highway 89, 2.5 miles north of Jackson, Wyoming. It is open Monday to Sat 0900 to 1700; Sunday 1300 to 1700.

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