Historical Landmark
The World’s Largest Buffalo Monument, located in Jamestown, North Dakota, is a colossal sculpture of an American bison that has stood watch over the James River Valley since 1959.
Designed by Jamestown College art professor Elmer Petersen, the statue stands 26 feet tall, 46 feet long, and weighs 60 tons, earning it world-record status as the largest buffalo sculpture ever built. Made from steel beams and reinforcing rods covered with wire mesh and sprayed cement known as gunnite, the monument was constructed at a cost of $8,500, equivalent to about $70,000 today.
Originally commissioned by local businessman Harold Newman to attract tourists, the sculpture helped establish Jamestown’s nickname, “The Buffalo City.” Visible from Interstate 94, it quickly became a Midwest roadside icon. In 2010, the buffalo was officially named “Dakota Thunder” after a local naming contest that received more than 3,500 entries.
The monument sits within the Frontier Village tourist complex, which recreates an Old West town, and it shares the site with the North American Bison Discovery Center, formerly the National Buffalo Museum, which features live bison herds and educational exhibits.
Today, Dakota Thunder remains a beloved landmark symbolizing North Dakota’s deep connection to the American plains and its mighty wildlife heritage.
World's Largest Buffalo Monument is located in North Dakota, United States.
World's Largest Buffalo Monument is situated in the state of North Dakota.
Yes, World's Largest Buffalo Monument is family-friendly and attracts visitors of all age groups.
Visitors usually spend a few hours to a full day exploring World's Largest Buffalo Monument.
Yes, there are several hotels and accommodations near World's Largest Buffalo Monument in North Dakota.
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