Admission to Tatanka: Story of the Bison

It is estimated that before 1880, there were 30-60 million of these bison roaming the Great Plains and by the end of the 19th century, only about 1,000 remained. This near-extinction did not happen overnight but the majority of the slaughters took place between the 1830s and 1860s. This is not to the fault of the Northern Plains People, but to the Euro-Americans who wanted to profit from these beautiful creatures and change the lives of the natives. After hunting and killing the animal, they would sell the hide and tongue for money and would leave the rest of the carcass on the prairie. By hunting them, they were trying to change the native culture and pave the way for Westward expansion. 

 

Today, there are more than 400,000 of these animals in North America living on ranches and National Parks. Tatanka: Story of the Bison tells the story of two cultures: the white man and the Native American. You will learn their mutual stories and how these stories have shaped America. At the museum, you'll see the following: