National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo
Jamestown, ND
A 7.9 m concrete buffalo from 1959 overlooks I-94, next to a museum on the bison and a small live herd, sometimes including a white bison. Frontier Village beside it is free.
The World’s Largest Buffalo Monument is a concrete bison about 26 ft (7.9 m) tall and 46 ft (14 m) long in Jamestown, North Dakota, at the end of Louis L’Amour Lane on a hill above town. It can be seen from Interstate 94; Atlas Obscura names Exit 258. The statue weighs about 60 tons and has stood there since 1959; it was created by Jamestown College art teacher Elmer Petersen (Atlas Obscura spells it Peterson).
Next to the sculpture is the National Buffalo Museum (listed by North Dakota Tourism as the North American Bison Discovery Center). A live bison herd also lives on the grounds; according to Atlas Obscura it at times included the rare white buffalo White Cloud. Seeing animals cannot be guaranteed.
Right beside it is Frontier Village, a replica Western town built in 1965. Please check the museum's opening hours beforehand.
- Nearest town
- Jamestown, ND
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 46.8943, -98.6917
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Frontier Fort CampCampsite1 mi from National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest BuffaloCaravans
- Lakeside CampgroundCampsite4 mi from National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo
- Jamestown CampgroundCampsite4 mi from National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest BuffaloTentsCaravansWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Motorhome stopover · JamestownMotorhome stopover5 mi from National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest BuffaloMotorhomes
- Pelican Point Landing and CampgroundCampsite8 mi from National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo
All campsites in North Dakota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo?
National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo is in Jamestown, ND, at GPS 46.8943, -98.6917. It is about 81 mi from Grahams Island State Park.
Can you camp near National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Frontier Fort Camp, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 5 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo?
National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: North Dakota on I-94: from Fargo to the badlands.
What is there to see near National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo?
Places worth a stop nearby: Fort Totten State Historic Site (76 mi), Bonanzaville (84 mi), North Dakota State Capitol (99 mi) and Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park (102 mi).
When is the best time to visit National Buffalo Museum and World’s Largest Buffalo?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)