Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center

Jackson Hole is mainly a ski resort in the winter, with few people doing the things we did today: starting out at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, a visit to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, a sleigh ride in the National Elk Refuge, another view of the Tetons, and a walk around Jackson.

On the tour, we could do the activities above or take an optional snowmobile, driving the snowmobiles yourself,  and hot spring tour. I chose the activities above as I was both interested in seeing the Elk Refuge and the town of Jackson.

We started out at the visitors center with its display of elks and information about elks and the establishment of the Elk Refuge.

Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center

An elk’s antlers. Only the male elks (bulls) grow antlers and they shed them in March and then start to regrow them in May. A bull’s antlers can grow to four feet (1.2 meters) above their heads.

Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center

A female elk, the one in the front of the photo, is called a “cow.”

Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center

In the Visitors Center gift shop: Advice from a Bear. “Live large. When life gets hairy, grin and bear it. Live with the seasons. Take a good long nap. Look after your honey.”

Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center

Advice from a MOOSE: “Thin big. Eat plenty of greens. Hold your head high. Keep your nose clean. It’s ok to be a little wild!”

Jackson Hole

Winter scene outside the visitors center.

Jackson Hole

Another winter scene outside the visitors center.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art

Our next stop was at the The National Museum of Wildlife Art, which has a large collection of wildlife statues, sculptures, and paintings. Photo: A moose statue outside the museum.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art

One of the sculptures that I liked: “Creature Comforts,” by Steve Kestral.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art

The museum has a statue by Auguste Rodin called “Le Lion Qui Pleure” (“The Crying Lion”).

The National Museum of Wildlife Art

A painting that I liked called “Chief,” by Robert Bateman.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art

There was a special exhibit of very nice engravings by Francois Nicolas Martinet at the museum.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art

Another special exhibit was called “Tusk, Horn, Flesh & Bone” by Asher Jay, educating people about the illegal ivory trade and its devastating effect on the populations of African rhinos and elephants.

I have put my photos of The National Museum of Wildlife Art on a slideshow. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/day–4a–wildlife–art–museum/

(Slide Shows, United States, Yellowstone in Winter, “Day 4A: Wildlife Art Museum”).

The National Elk Refuge

A sleigh ride at the National Elk Refuge was our next event. The refuge was established in 1912 to provide a winter habitat for the Jackson elk herd. In April or May, the elk leave the refuge to travel to the high country where there is plenty of food and forests to protect them from predators.

The National Elk Refuge

Elk at the Elk Refuge. I have put my photos of the elks on a slide show. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/day–4b–elk–refuge/

(Slide Shows, United States, Yosemite in Winter, “Day 4B: Elk Refuge”).

Elk at the Elk Refuge: MOVIE

Elk at the National Elk Refuge. They mainly eat, walk around a bit, and sit down. The movie is without sound.

Elk Fighting at the Elk Refuge–MOVIE

Two elks were fighting when we were there.

Grand Tetons National Park

We drove to the Grand Tetons National Park Visitors Center so that people could get their National Park Passports stamped. These stamps serve as a record of each park visit. However, the visitors center was closed for the winter. But we were able to take photos of the Tetons with the sun shining on them.

Grand Tetons National Park

The Grand Teton.

Grand Tetons National Park

A winter scene.

Grand Tetons National Park

The Tetons.

Grand Tetons National Park

The Tetons.

Jackson

We had the afternoon free. I spent it walking around the town of Jackson.

Jackson has a population of about 10,000 and is in the state of Wyoming, which has a population of about only 600,000. Wyoming’s nicknames are the Equality State, the Cowboy State, and Big Wonderful Wyoming. Its state emblem is the Bucking Horse and Rider, statues of which you see often in Jackson.

Jackson is built like an Old West town and has many art galleries, restaurants, and shops.

Photo: One of the many statues seen in Jackson.

Jackson

Some of its Old West buildings.

Jackson

I had lunch at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

Jackson

One of the four elk antler arches on the Town Square in Jackson.

Jackson

A row of famous people statues.

Jackson

The Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum with a very interesting display on the Wild Bunch Gang, which was led by Butch Cassidy.

I have put my photos of Jackson on a slide show. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/day–4c–jackson/

(Slide Shows, United States, Yellowstone in Winter, “Day 4C: Jackson”).