Amazing Collection: Travelers’ Rest Free Grizzly Bear Art Exhibit

Plan to visit Travelers' Rest State Park near Lolo this month to see a new bear art exhibit and to learn more about bear safety.

"URSUS HORRIBILIS: THE GRIZZLY BEAR ILLUSTRATED"

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that Travelers’ Rest State Park near Lolo will host a temporary exhibit, “Ursus Horribilis: The Grizzly Bear Illustrated,” beginning May 9. The display features vintage grizzly bear prints by noted artists which illuminate the complex history of grizzly bears, humans and habitat.

Visitors can view the free exhibit throughout the spring and summer during regular visitor center hours, daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE

A collection of 50 vintage prints illustrates the grizzly bear of the American frontier West by acclaimed artists such as Karl Bodmer, Titian Ramsay Peale, and Frederic Remington. The art includes scenes of the bear in its natural habitat as it pursues its prey, Native Americans who sought to enlist its power, hunters engaging “Old Ephraim” in a dangerous contest of wills, those who subdued it for sport and in defense of their business, and distinctive portraits by artists who justly admired the bear’s commanding stature.

DON'T MISS THE ADDITIONAL BEAR AWARE EVENT

Travelers’ Rest State Park will also host a bear aware event on Saturday, May 23 where visitors can learn practical tools for reducing conflicts with bears around home and when out recreating. Refresh on bear safety tips, practice with inert bear spray cans, and connect with local experts.

This free, family-friendly event runs from 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with a variety of drop-in booths and activities. Meet with representatives from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and other organizations dedicated to keeping people and bears safe.

Practice safe bear spray discharge with inert training cans and a simulated charging bear, learn tips and tools for how to be bear aware at home, see shepherding by Wind River Bear Institute's Karelian bear dogs, and more! A special kids program focused on bears will also be offered from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. as part of the “Trekker Kids” program series that runs each Saturday at the park through the end of May.

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ABOUT TRAVELERS' REST

Travelers’ Rest State Park includes the only archaeologically verified campsite of the Lewis & Clark Expedition and is an important cultural site for the Séliš and Ql̓ispé people.

The park is open to vehicles daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitor center is open daily from 9:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. during the spring and summer months. Pedestrian entrances and park trails are open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. Call the state park at 406- 273–4253 or visit the Montana FWP Travelers' Rest State Park website page.