National Museum of Wildlife Art

What National Museum of Wildlife Art does

The National Museum of Wildlife Art is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art museum (Tax ID 74-2431071) headquartered at 2820 Rungius Road in Jackson, Wyoming, founded in 1987 and congressionally designated as the "National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States" in 2008. Its core product is ticketed admission to galleries housing over 5,000 cataloged items of wildlife art from more than 550 artists, spanning 4,500 years — including the largest U.S. collection of Carl Rungius work and pieces by Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, John James Audubon, and Rosa Bonheur. The 51,000-square-foot facility, designed by C.W. Fentress and J.H. Bradburn and Associates and inspired by Slains Castle in Scotland, sits on a butte overlooking the National Elk Refuge adjacent to Grand Teton National Park and includes a three-quarter-mile Sculpture Trail with over 20 wildlife sculptures designed by Walter Hood. The institution serves roughly 65,000-75,000 visitors annually, including 3,000+ K-12 students in free school tours, and a 5,000-household membership base.

The museum operates a multi-revenue-stream model comprising admissions ($10-$18 per ticket), annual memberships tiered from $50 basic up through Visionaries at $50,000+, the Palate on-site restaurant, the Museum Shop (both onsite and online via shop.wildlifeart.org), event facility rentals (Pike and Susan Sullivan Hall, Cook Auditorium, Sculpture Trail Terrace), signature fundraisers (Western Visions auction, Plein Air Fest with ~50 artists, Blacktail Bash), and adult art-making classes ($60 in-person / $20 recorded). Funding also flows through philanthropic contributions from individuals, foundations (Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Hearst Foundations), corporate sponsors, and government grants (NEH, IMLS, Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund).

Distribution is anchored to the single Jackson Hole physical site with digital extensions including Bisoncast video content, a Cuseum-powered mobile app in English and Spanish, the online Carl Rungius Catalogue Raisonné database, and the Call of the Wild annual magazine distributed to 6,000+ readers. The museum engages a diversified customer base spanning tourists and visitors to Grand Teton/Yellowstone, Jackson Hole local community members, school groups, wildlife art collectors, and event organizers — supported by partnerships with Blue Star Families, EnChroma, Creature Conserve, Teton Science Schools, Bloomberg Philanthropies, National Geographic, and over 22 other community and institutional partners.

Name

National Museum of Wildlife Art

Legal name

National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States

Website

https://wildlifeart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Museum of Wildlife Art is a congressionally designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum in Jackson, Wyoming, housing over 5,000 cataloged wildlife artworks from 550+ artists and serving approximately 75,000 annual visitors via ticketed admission, tiered memberships, on-site dining and retail, and signature fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife art museum
• Art exhibition galleries
• Museum educational programs
• Museum facility rentals
• Museum membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Revenue from museum admission tickets. Adults $18, Seniors 65+ $16, first child ages 5-18 $10, additional children $5, children 4 and under free.
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships starting at $50, with tiered society memberships (Russell Society $1,000, Rungius Society $3,500, Bonheur Society $5,000) and leadership levels (Collectors Circle $10,000, Luminaries $25,000+, Visionaries $50,000+).
3. Palate Restaurant: On-site full-service lunch restaurant operated by Graeme and Christine Mara Swain, owners of Gather Restaurant, offering indoor and outdoor dining with views of the National Elk Refuge. Open daily 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
4. Museum Shop: On-site retail gift shop selling wildlife-inspired gifts, books, and art memorabilia both at the museum and online.
5. Facility Rentals: Event venues for weddings, corporate events, galas, and meetings including Pike and Susan Sullivan Hall (2,500 sq ft), Members' Lounge (1,260 sq ft), Cook Auditorium (seats 200), and Sculpture Trail Terrace.
6. Signature Fundraising Events: Western Visions art show and auction (annual during Fall Arts Festival), Plein Air Fest (annual spring event with ~50 artists painting outdoors), and Blacktail Bash masquerade event.
7. Adult Education Programs: Make it Wild art-making series: $60 per live in-person class, $20 per recorded class. Proceeds support Art Leadership Scholarship.
8. Donations and Sponsorship: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, and bequests. With annual visitation of 75,000 and a member base of 5,000 individuals, the museum connects sponsors to a diverse audience of locals and visitors.
9. Artwork Acquisition Services: Art donations and acquisitions, including work by artists such as Nancy Glazier's painting 'Bullseye' donated through art broker Melchor Moore.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The National Museum of Wildlife Art is a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum operating a 51,000 square-foot facility in Jackson, Wyoming that houses over 5,000 cataloged items of wildlife art from 550+ artists spanning 4,500 years. It offers ticketed admission to galleries, an outdoor Sculpture Trail, an on-site restaurant, a museum shop, educational programs, signature fundraising events, and venue rentals for private events. The museum was designated by Congress in 2008 as the nation's only museum dedicated solely to wildlife art.

Product overview

The National Museum of Wildlife Art operates as a physical museum institution with integrated digital offerings. Its core product is ticketed admission to galleries featuring over 5,000 cataloged items of animal art from more than 550 artists. The museum enhances the visitor experience through complementary offerings including the outdoor Sculpture Trail with over 20 wildlife sculptures, on-site Palate Restaurant, Museum Shop, and a live National Elk Refuge Webcam. Digital products include Bisoncast video series, a mobile app via Cuseum for audio tours and gallery guides, and the online Carl Rungius Catalogue Raisonné database. Educational programs encompass K-12 school tours (free of charge), Make it Wild adult art courses, and graduate museum internships. The museum generates revenue through admissions, facility rentals for events and weddings, annual signature fundraisers (Western Visions, Plein Air Fest, Blacktail Bash), and tiered membership programs ranging from $50 to $50,000+.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Admission Ticketed admission to galleries featuring over 5,000 cataloged items of animal art from more than 550 artists, dating from 2500 B.C.E. to the present. Adult tickets $18, Seniors 65+ $16, children 5-18 $10 first/$5 additional, free for children 4 and under.
• Sculpture Trail

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 65,000 annual visitors representing a significant tourism draw to Jackson Hole
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EnChroma, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EnChroma, creators of eyewear for color blindness. The museum provides color blind glasses (three adult and one child pair) available on a first-come, first-served basis for complimentary borrowing, improving accessibility for color blind visitors.
• Blue Star FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Star Museums partnership offers free admission to the nation's active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve during summer (Armed Forces Day to Labor Day). Partnership between NEA, Blue Star Families, and Department of Defense.
• City Kids Wilderness ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit providing enriching experiences for DC youth. Museum hosts High School students from the program for job shadowing in the education department.
• COOMBS OutdoorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpowers local youth by reducing barriers to outdoor recreation. Museum is part of COOMBS summer camp itinerary with educators leading museum exploration and art creation activities.
• Creature ConservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreature Conserve creates exhibits on human-wildlife relationships. Partnership has brought Re-Imagining Conservation (2023), Urban Wildlife: Learning to Co+Exist (2020), and Wildlife Trade: Art+Science (2017) exhibitions.
• Teton Botanical GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Greater Yellowstone Botanical Tour (GYBT) on the Sculpture Trail. Thousands of new plantings emphasizing native plants and regional ecosystems. App tour available in English and Spanish.
• The Nature Conservancy of WyomingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Greater Yellowstone Botanical Tour (GYBT) on the Sculpture Trail. Collaboration emphasizes native plants and regional ecosystems.
• Teton County School District / CRESTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum provides activities at local elementary schools during teacher in-service days through CREST partnership between Teton County School District and community nonprofits.
• Jackson Hole Children's MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission to ignite kids' potential through creativity, learning, and play. Partnership creates after-school and summer programming bringing Museum into classrooms and community.
• The Grand AdventureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects youth receiving long-term cancer care to extraordinary experiences through in-person and virtual adventures. Museum provides virtual and in-person experiences exploring art, wildlife, and human connection.
• Hole Food RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnsures all Teton County children have access to healthy lunch in summer. Museum provides free art activities inspired by wildlife art collection during Sprouts Lunch Program.
• National Geographic SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Geographic hosted Photo Camp in Jackson in 2023. Museum partnered in recruiting local youth and hosted final celebration of student work in the auditorium.
• Teton County Parks and RecreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum educators teach offsite and onsite programming with Kids Club and Camp Jackson, engaging youth across the community in art and wildlife.
• Teton Science SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum is resource for school and field education programs. Education department works with teachers and field educators on place-based programming through art and exploration.
• Wind River Community AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Native American led programs on Wind River Indian Reservation. Museum contributes staff/volunteer time to create hundreds of free art kits for children on the reservation.
• Bloomberg PhilanthropiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected for Bloomberg Philanthropies' Digital Accelerator for Arts and Culture Program. Major initiative to enhance museum digital capabilities and operations.
• 1% For the PlanetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership and beneficiary. 1% for the Planet connects businesses with environmental partners to create lasting change. Museum recognized as environmental steward.
• Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision for Jackson Hole as wild and resilient destination where community, economy, and natural ecosystems thrive. Works to ensure tourism is positive force.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum: Wausau, WI museum focused on bird and wildlife art (especially 'Birds in Art' annual exhibition). Highly comparable niche focus on wildlife art, signature exhibition programming, and educational mission.
• C.M. Russell Museum Complex: Great Falls, MT museum dedicated to the art and life of Charles M. Russell, a wildlife/Western artist. Comparable in scale and focus on a single wildlife/Western artist and broader wildlife art canon.
• Sid Richardson Museum: Fort Worth, TX museum focused on Western art by Remington, Russell, and other wildlife/Western artists. Comparable in single-theme Western/wildlife art curation and reliance on donor/foundation support.
• Gilcrease Museum: Tulsa, OK museum housing one of the world's most comprehensive collections of Western art including wildlife subjects. Comparable in curatorial depth, single-site operation, and donor-supported nonprofit model.
• Buffalo Bill Center of the West: Cody, WY-based complex including the Whitney Western Art Museum, focused on Western and wildlife art in the Greater Yellowstone region. Directly comparable geographic and thematic positioning, and the most natural regional peer.
• Booth Western Art Museum: Located in Kennesaw, GA, Booth is a dedicated Western/wildlife art museum with a sizable permanent collection and signature events. Closely comparable in mission (Western/wildlife art curation, education, events) though larger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• Denver Art Museum: General art museum with significant Western and Native American collections including wildlife art. Larger, broader, urban institution that competes for regional tourist and donor mindshare in the Mountain West.
• National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: Oklahoma City-based, larger museum covering Western art, culture, and history including significant wildlife art. Wider scope and bigger operating budget, making it a broad incumbent in the same thematic space.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Massive federal museum with overlapping wildlife and nature subjects but vastly broader scope. Operates as a benchmark for federally-designated natural history/nature institutions and competes for donor and tourist attention in D.C.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum: Federal museum covering American art across periods, including wildlife and landscape works. Overlaps with NMWA in subject matter but at vastly larger scale and broader thematic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WildlifeArtJH
• Facebookfacebook.com/WildlifeArtJH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-museum-of-wildlife-art

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Museum of Wildlife Art