page_title: National Bison Range
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: National Bison Range / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Big Medicine was a sacred white buffalo that lived from 1933-1959 on the National Bison Range and is on permanent display at the Montana Historical Society
context_page_description: The National Bison Range is a National Wildlife Refuge located in western Montana established in 1908 to provide a sanctuary for the American bison. The NBR is one of the oldest National Wildlife Refuges in the United States. The size of the bison herd at the NBR is relatively small, numbering between 350 and 500 individuals. The initial herd of American bison was provided by organizations such as the American Bison Society, and today the refuge serves as the central point for bison research in the United States.
  The NBR consists of approximately 18,800 acres and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Other nearby National Wildlife Refuges are managed as parts of the National Bison Range Complex and include the Lost Trail, Ninepipe, Pablo and the Swan River National Wildlife Refuges. Also affiliated is the Northwest Montana Wetland Management District.
  The NBR has a visitor center, and two scenic roads that allow vehicular access to prime viewing areas. The refuge is approximately one hour north of Missoula, Montana with signs off of U.S. Highway 93 directing visitors to the entrance at Moiese, Montana, and the refuge headquarters.
context_section_description: The National Bison Range was established in 1908. The Civilian Conservation Corps built many of its buildings. Ernie Kraft, who began work at the Bison Range in 1955, published a history of the Bison Range and its people in 2006.
  A well-known white buffalo, "Whitey" (1933-1959, also called "Big Medicine"), spent his life at the Bison Range.
caption: Big Medicine on display at the Montana Historical Society museum
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