Smithsonian National Zoo in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Bison and the Land
Bison were a means to an end.
To Native Americans, bison were a source of food, tools, warmth and shelter. To American settlers, they were food, but they were also in the way; bison thrived on the same land that the growing nation wanted. Some settlers wanted bison and the Native Americans who depended on them to disappear. With such an attitude in mind, a choice was made to wipe out bison herds, and, through this, push out Native Americans.
Working together to save a species
Today, Native Americans have a leading role in the recovery of American bison. Some tribes own land on which bison are protected, and members of those nations help to manage the herds. Native Americans are working with government agencies, bison ranchers and conservation groups to promote the recovery of the species. Through these collaborative efforts bison herds are becoming a fixture on the American landscape again.
Helping the animals helps the land.
With the recovery of bison, the prairies themselves are coming back. For millions of years, bison maintained the prairie ecology. Seeds spread and grazed grasses grew back in a continuous cycle. Without bison, the prairies almost disappeared. Now that herds are protected, native prairies are taking root once more.
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Anthropology & Archaeology • Environment • Native Americans.
Location. 38° 55.898′ N, 77° 3.144′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Smithsonian National Zoo. Marker is on Olmsted Walk, 0.3 miles east of Connecticut Avenue Northwest, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. And Then There Were (Almost) None (here, next to this marker); Are They Bison or Buffalo? (a few steps from this marker); Bison and the National Zoo (a few steps from this marker); Meet Our Bison (a few steps from this marker); The Scoop on Poop (a few steps from this marker); Feeding Times at the Zoo (within shouting distance of this marker); It's Our 125th Birthday! (within shouting distance of this marker); Giant Panda (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
