#greatplains

🦬For #NationalBisonDay, let’s take a look at the American Bison and Pronghorn Diorama in the Hall of North American Mammals. 🚂If you were crossing the Great Plains in the 1860s, this would be the view: bison as far as the horizon. A few decades later less than a thousand bison remained. The species was nearly exterminated for hides and sport, and to devastate Native Americans who relied on bison for food and livelihood. This “great slaughter” ignited the first effort to save a mammal from extinction. As bison dwindled, ranchers began to breed them, and some were transferred to sanctuaries. Today, this North American icon is numerous again, though most are raised on ranches. Truly wild bison are still quite rare. The Museum is open daily, from 10 am–5:30 pm, so plan your weekend trip. Photo: E. Louis/ © AMNH #ExhibitOfTheDay #AmericanBison #bison #diorama #museums #amnh #nyc #GreatPlains #conservation #NaturalHistory #nature #dyk (at American Museum of Natural History) https://www.instagram.com/p/CklWjxELk-g/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Colonel Edwin V. Sumner established Fort Union several miles north of the junction of the two main branches of the Santa Fe Trail, on a tributary of the Mora river, in July, 1851. He chose the location for several reasons. 1) Sumner deemed Santa Fe as “morally degrading.” There were a lot of bars and brothels, which provided too many tempting distractions for soldiers. 2) Use soldiers to construct a fort and to farm was less expensive than leasing buildings, contracting to vendors, or purchasing provisions. 3) Problems with Comanche, Ute, and Jicarilla Apache along the southern route of the Santa Fe Trail jeopardized the primary supply line to the new territory. Troops could patrol and be more readily mobilized from the Plains than from the Sangre de Cristos.

Great Tomahawk in the style of the Great Plains tribes the later half of the 19th century. Hand forged and file faceted head is patinaed and aged with reactive clays. Hand carved curly maple handle is drilled and has a pewter mouth piece. Painted fringed buckskin handle wrap and gasket https://www.irontreeforge.com/post/great-tomahawk #pipetomahawk #contemporymakers #westernart #blackpowder #blacksmithing #bladesmithing #facet #pipe #tomahawk #greatplains #tipi #peacepipetomahawk #buckskin https://www.instagram.com/p/CloKX9POsSR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Roam, bison style, under a gorgeous sky. The magnificent Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma includes 8,570 acres of designated wilderness and beautiful places to roam. Home to approximately 650 American bison, this stunning prairie land also provides habitat for bison, white-tailed deer, elk, Texas longhorn cattle, and more than 240 bird and 50 mammal species. Photographer Debra Gail explains why this photo means something to her,  "I am overwhelmed by the emotions I feel when having the opportunity to photograph in this extraordinary place. I love the bison's symbolism because they are the largest land animal in the United States, and the refuge is on the Great Plains, a land on which I feel most connected." Photo courtesy of Debra Gail.

Spirit of the West, digital art, prints available. DM for info. 

Elephantastic Saturday shout out from #wildographer, San Bushman & “Walking with Elephants” guide with @levison.wood, @kanemotswana, straight from Abu Camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. It is super guide @kanemotswana’s birthday today so please join us in wishing him a wonderful day. Give him a follow for regular updates and enquire about prints & privately guided trips. https://www.kaneadventuresafaris.com/ #WildographyandSafaris #Wildography #wildlifephotography #kanemotswana #okavangodelta #abucamp #elephant #birthdayboy #wildlifeconservation #conservation #greatplains #africansafaris #africansafari #safari #wildlifeaddicts #wildlifelovers #igswildlife #allnatureshots #travel4conservation #botswana #botswanawildlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CH3GIV0ACZL/?igshid=k67cnjp736ma

Endless Highway, Hwy 24, near Ft Peck, MT

Eastern Colorado, RA Clayton