National Museum of Wildlife Art — Attraction in Jackson

A must see if you enjoy history or art. The museum had so many pieces from the 1600s to today that gave a historical record of humans using paintings and sculptures to show the beauty of wildlife, but also the relationship between humans and their effects on ecosystems and species from around the world.

Because of its location there is a lot of focus on the “west”, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, the Great Plains, and local fauna like bison/buffalo, wild horses, grizzly bears, and more. Many pieces capture the conflicting feelings ppl have about manifest destiny and the destruction of many of America’s first and greatest treasures. It’s not one big guilt trip but it does give you a new perspective about humans’ simultaneous love of witnessing and experiencing nature while, paradoxically, sitting back as our expansion destroys it.

Several pieces had me stuck in the same spot for several minutes (or longer) due to their artistry, attention to detail, historical context, or sheer size of the canvas. Several pieces stuck with me and I returned to many before leaving the area.

Highly recommend going here. The cafe is only open for lunch (11a-2:30p I think). It’s about an hour walk north of Jackson right along side of the Elk Refuge. I imagine after the Elk migrate for the warmer months the walk could be a great chance at spotting local wildlife, otherwise it’s a very short uber ride from downtown.

Make sure to look outside at the exterior sculptures! They’re mostly hard to miss but some hide a little.

If you have any time before or after your visit, I highly recommend stopping at the Wilcox Gallery nearby. There is no entry fee and it is almost exactly in the middle of RT 89 between the museum and Jackson. Budget around 30-1hr of time and check it out! It has many pieces from a handful of artists (some also have pieces at the museum) and honestly, some of our favorite sculptures were at Wilcox rather than the museum. Obviously a museum serves a different purpose and is not something to skip, but adding the Wilcox before/after your visit costs nothing and it should be a required visit...

I’ve been coming here for years. A lot has changed since I was a kid, some better and some not so better. For the most part I love this museum and the architecture of the building and surrounding sculptures alone make it a beautiful and serene little break from town.

Some of my favorite things: some of the art here is the best in the world in wildlife (and some landscape) art. They have Robert Bateman, Thomas Moran, Georgia O’Keeffe and so much more. They also have educational programs for kids which have grown over the years. That makes me really happy. My daughter (5) loved these areas that are interactive and charming. They have a theater and gift shop, and a new exhibit every time I come, sometimes two or three, with permanent exhibits as well. I did t do a National Geographic workshop here a handful of years ago so there are always a lot of little workshops and lectures going on which is terrific. They are involved with local environmental and community efforts.

What I didn’t care for: the current temporary exhibits have pink paper museum labels. They looks super tacky and don’t fit with the organic and earthy artwork. Imagine beautiful paintings and frames with hot pink paper labels. It was most peculiar. This was in two rooms. The permanent exhibits have done much better with labeling so maybe this is a new curator, idk. Another thing that is disappointing is the restaurant. Not sure when they changed ownership but the old one has some vegan options and this one definitely doesn’t. Since vegan dining is growing in popularity and this museum has global appeal they need to do something about that. I was also sad to see the giant bison painted by Bateman be moved to a cramped corner and replaced by a pop art owl that looked like the art in downtown tourist shops. The bison is painted in a manner that it looks amazing close and very far away, and you need that space— like the original long hall— to really catch that. There was a beautiful dark blue swan painting I miss too but I know they rotate their art a lot. Just please...

This place is so unexpectedly cool! Located just outside of Jackson town, it blends in perfectly with the natural beauty of the hills. It is a must see! The amount of artwork outside is amazing. The fabulous sculptures, exhibits as a blend of nature with modern art, create a truly captivating experience. Even though the museum was closed when we visited, the statues alone were beautiful enough to admire. Also, the view from the museum is simply breathtaking.

If you're looking for a free way to enjoy the place, you can still stop for 15-30 minutes and walk around to see all the animal sculptures outside the museum. It's a great way to stretch your legs and appreciate the artistry. There's also a telescope available for visitors to use, so you can observe anything that catches your eye.

We definitely plan to come back when they are open. This place is full of excellent photo opportunities and we can't wait to explore more of what the museum has to offer. If you're in the area, be sure to visit this hidden gem and immerse yourself in its captivating art and natural...