University of Denver Spring 2026

“Map Illustrating the Extermination of the American Bison. Prepared by W. T. Hornaday.” Compiled under the direction of Henry Gannett. In Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1889.) A.S. 910. 61 x 58 cm. To the Brink of Extinction In 1886, the Smithsonian Institution sent its chief taxidermist, William Temple Hornaday, to Montana to bring back specimens of the American bison. There he discovered a species that was nearly extinct, thanks to factors including the Spanish introduction of horses, aggressive hunting with advanced firearms, and the advent of transcontinental railroads. With the help of geographer Henry Gannett and zoologist Joel Allen, Hornaday visualized the devastation of the animal in this map. Red numbers indicate the date by which the bison could no longer be found in any given geography; blue and green circles highlight the few small bands that remained. Hornaday’s map exposed Americans to the dark side of western development, and sparked a discussion around conservation that flourished under Theodore Roosevelt and other influential leaders.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026