Bison Western Museum to Celebrate 1st Anniversary

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – The Bison Western Museum will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday, October 18, 2008, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in North Scottsdale. Festivities will include giveaways, contests, cowboy storytelling, free popcorn, candy and balloons and more.

To commemorate the one year anniversary, admission will be just $1 per visitor all day on the 18^th.  In addition, the celebration will mark the official opening of the Lou & Evelyn Grubb Room exhibiting the woodcarvings of Dee Flagg.

Since opening its doors last October the Bison Western Museum has gained wide acceptance and has established itself as one of the finest collections of Western, Native American and bison memorabilia and artifacts in the country. Year two will feature a special Spirit of the Old West lecture series, a Welcome to Old Scottsdale display, Flagg family pieces previously not displayed and more.

The Bison Western Museum houses more than 30,000 pieces and features such exhibits as “Dances with Wolves” and Native American artifacts room, the Singing Buffalo Family, the Saddled Bison “photo op” and a vast assortment of bronzes, paintings and prints. The extensive Buffalo Bill exhibit includes historic photos, prints, trinkets, documents, one of his famous Sharps rifles and more.

Also highlighted is the personal collection of the Flagg family, Scottsdale’s own “first family” of Western artists. The Flagg collection contains hundreds of items from paintings to sketches, from the original Parada del Sol program cover artwork to life size wood carved figures of Buffalo Bill, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok and others. In addition, the Flaggs created the artwork of the giant cowboy that has welcomed visitors to Scottsdale for over 50 years. A blow up of the original sketch is on display.

The museum is complemented by a gift shop, western library, party lounge, Western pavilion and the Bison Homes Information Center. It is located at 16641 N. 91st Street in Scottsdale, just north of West World. For more information and hours of operation please call 480-837-8700, or visit www.bisonwesternmuseum.com.