The Missing Bison
Summary
Smithsonian director Kirk Johnson traces the history of William Temple Hornaday’s iconic 1880s bison diorama, which helped spark early conservation efforts. After discovering the original taxidermy was gifted to Montana, Johnson commissions bronze replicas to return the "national mammal" to the museum’s entrance. The episode explores the bison’s near-extinction, their cultural significance to Native Americans, and their symbolic homecoming for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
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