Here’s a roadside attraction you might not have HERD of: The Journey Bison Sculpture in National Harbor, Maryland.
The Journey is a life-size custom sculpture of a family of American bison (A bull, a cow, and a calf) moving across the Great Plains of South Dakota.
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Created by artist John Lopez, the hybrid-metal piece is made of scrap iron and cast bronze. The designs weave in American-themed details, like a bald eagle and the stars and stripes of an American flag, and even incorporate some of the personal tools from the late Milt Peterson, founder of Peterson Companies and developer of National Harbor. Commissioned by National Harbor in Maryland, this bison sculpture was unveiled on Veterans Day in 2022.
The three-part sculpture represents the red, white and blue of the American flag and is made up of:
- A 6.5-foot tall, 1,000-pound, bull named Valor represents the red. He’s constructed from a plow disc (a tool used to plow the ground before planting), a red tractor seat, and a stripper head (a tool used for combining wheat). His eyes are made of a painted ball hitch and torque converter. And tractor chain gives the sculpture it’s wooly texture.
- A 6-foot tall cow named Vigilence represents the blue. The horns, hooves, and nose were cast in bronze and a wood-burning Sheraton Stove can be found on the cow’s back. Chains and metal fragments were used to give the cow a delicate feel.
- A 3.5-foot tall calf named Innocence represents the white. The calf is made up of a Roadmaster tricycle, heavy-duty tractor spring, and a chrome hubcap.
Find The Journey in Spirit Park, a dedicated area designed to honor the history of the American flag and all of those who represent it—veterans, first responders, public servants, and Americans across the U.S. It sits among a custom United States Seal embedded in the ground, a bell tower, a large American flag surrounded by 13 smaller ones, and sculptures of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. And, while in town, be sure to check out all the outdoor art in National Harbor, Maryland.
Photos of The Journey Bison Sculpture in National Harbor, Maryland
