Trip Planner:   USA  /  South Dakota  /  Deadwood  /  Tatanka: Story of the Bison

Tatanka: Story of the Bison, Deadwood

4.2
#4 of 9 in Museums in Deadwood
Monument · Landmark
Create an itinerary including Tatanka: Story of the Bison
Learn how the North American bison population plummeted from 60 million to less than 1,000 at Tatanka: Story of the Bison. Walk among life-sized statues of 14 bison pursued by Native Americans on horseback, and learn how indigenous people depended on the animal for food, clothing, tools, and much more. Don't miss the short film starring actor Kevin Costner, who strives to bring the park into the public eye. Use our Deadwood vacation builder to visit Tatanka: Story of the Bison on your trip to Deadwood, and learn what else travelers and our writers recommend seeing nearby.
Improve this listing »
Create a full itinerary - for free!

Tatanka: Story of the Bison reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
450 reviews
Google
4.5
TripAdvisor
  • DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! It was 3:30pm when we arrived. We were the first customers for the day and the last tour was to be at 4:30. We were taken into a very small room to watch a very boring video... 
    DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! It was 3:30pm when we arrived. We were the first customers for the day and the last tour was to be at 4:30. We were taken into a very small room to watch a very boring video...  more »
  • JJ was our speaker, a Lakota Indian and offered great history and facts on the bison. The sculpture outside is magnificent. The movie, narrated by Costner was good but poor quality audio and outdated....  more
    JJ was our speaker, a Lakota Indian and offered great history and facts on the bison. The sculpture outside is magnificent. The movie, narrated by Costner was good but poor quality audio and outdated....  more »
  • You pay $12 per person to watch a 20 year old video which basically sums up that Costner wanted to build a hotel and turned it into a place for sculptures instead. There are 4 costumes from the movie....  more
    You pay $12 per person to watch a 20 year old video which basically sums up that Costner wanted to build a hotel and turned it into a place for sculptures instead. There are 4 costumes from the movie....  more »
Google
  • Last minute idea to stop. Its small, but has plenty of interesting things to look at. Highly recommend taking the time to watch the video presentation. We were lucky to arrive when an in-person presentation was being delivered. Very interesting. The sculptures are great. So much detail. The video presentation does a good job explaining the creation process.
  • This was one of the most gorgeous statues I have ever seen. A must see!!! The visitor center had really cool stuff. Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolf's stuff is there. He paid 6 million dollars to have this made. Unbelievable!!!!
  • I am so glad we went to Tatanka: Story of the Bison. I loved looking at the collection of artifacts, but what I loved even more was the presentation by Mr. J. J. Kent. His talk was so informative and interesting. And his flute playing was divine! The sculptures of the Bison hunt were magnificent. I'll definitely be back!!
  • Fabulous. Neat link to Kevin Costner, his love of and vision for this location, telling Lakota story. Enjoyed hearing the Native American perspective from a tribe member, JJ Kent. The bison jump sculpture - fabulous. My wife and I learned, enjoyed and will recommend to anyone…everyone…visiting Deadwood.
  • Wonderful experience. The speaker was very personable and knowledgeable. The exhibits are very interesting. The view from the sculpture is unbelievable.

Plan your trip to Deadwood

  • Get a personalized trip
    A full day by day itinerary based on your preferences
  • Customize it
    Refine your trip. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules
  • Book it
    Choose from the best hotels and activities. Up to 50% off
  • Manage it
    Everything in one place. Everyone on the same page.