Jamestown National Buffalo Museum Renamed North American Bison Discovery Center

The institution on 500 17th St SE in Jamestown that long operated as the National Buffalo Museum is now presented online as the North American Bison Discovery Center, housed in a 6,000-square-foot rustic log building at the edge of Frontier Village. NDtourism materials state the site is "now renamed the North American Bison Discovery Center," while legacy references and travel guides continue to use the National Buffalo Museum name, creating mixed branding in promotional sources.

Inside the museum visitors find mounted bison specimens, Plains Indian artifacts, 19th-century firearms, a bison-hide tipi replica and prehistoric remains, including a female bison skeleton estimated at up to 10,000 years old and a replica of a 47,500-year-old bison skull. The facility operates a small theater that shows a 16-minute film about the bison's near-extinction and 135 years of conservation efforts, and features rotating interactive exhibits on natural history and cultural significance.

A full-body mount of White Cloud, the albino buffalo long associated with the Jamestown herd, is on display at the museum; NDtourism notes White Cloud "was part of the North American Bison Discovery Center’s live herd for nearly 20 years" and Enjoyyourparks describes White Cloud as "Certified as a true Albino American Buffalo (Bison)." White Cloud birthed 11 calves, including Dakota Miracle, identified as a white bull in NDtourism materials. Enjoyyourparks cautions that "Regardless of whether or not 'Dakota Miracle' is a true albino buffalo, Dakota Miracle is a gorgeous rarity and is a thrill to watch graze with White Cloud at the 200 acre refuge," reflecting inconsistent language across sources about Dakota Miracle's albino status.

The museum overlooks a 200-acre refuge maintained by the North Dakota Buffalo Foundation where roughly 30+ buffalo graze; the herd and refuge are visible from the museum's large deck and from Interstate 94 as it passes the Jamestown site. Nearby roadside Americana includes the World’s Largest Buffalo statue, a 60-ton concrete monument measuring 26 feet tall and 46 feet long, built in 1959 by sculptor Elmer Petersen from steel beams, mesh and hand-applied concrete and funded by community contributions to draw travelers off I-94.

Practical visitor information from the museum site lists summer hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day) as 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, regular hours (March to Memorial Day and Labor Day through October) as Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and winter hours (November through February) as Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admissions are listed as $8.00 general, $6.00 for seniors 62 and up, $6.00 for active military with ID, $6.00 for children 5–14, free for children under 5 and free for SNAP EBT cardholders and up to three guests; members and school groups are free and group tours or tour buses are charged $75.00.

The museum's official contact information appears as North American Bison Discovery Center, 500 17th St SE, Jamestown, ND 58401, phone 701-252-8648 and toll-free 1-800-807-1511. The museum's online postings include two different holiday-closure ranges in December, so callers seeking current hours, the live status of White Cloud or the herd count should confirm by phone before visiting.