The American Bison, arguably the most majestic figure of the Great Plains, embodies the spirit of the West's expansion. These symbols of the West are inherently migratory, traversing long distances across vast prairies in search of fresh pastures and water sources, a journey guided by the changing seasons and the availability of resources. The bison's paths through the tall grasses and along riverbanks, in search of greener pastures and abundant water, inadvertently paved the way for the wagon trails of westward expansion, linking them directly to the nation's manifest destiny.

 

The migratory nature of the bison also resonated with the lifestyles of the Native American tribes, for whom the bison was a vital source of sustenance and resources. These tribes, inherently nomadic themselves, followed the bison across the vastness of the continent, in a harmonious dance of survival and tradition. In this way, the bison's ceaseless journey across the American West became a living emblem of nomadic life, deeply connected to the natural world and inextricably linked to the heritage and livelihood of the Native American people.