Antler Arch — Wyoming

Members of the Jackson Hole Rotary Club constructed the antler arch in 1953 as an installation that would capture the essence of the American West. Community members built the arch in the Jackson Hole Town Square, which is adjacent to Highway 89.

Since its creation in 1953, the antler arch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has attracted countless Highway 89 travelers. Regardless of whether the destination is Jackson Hole itself or Grand Teton National Park further north, tourists often include a visit to the antler arch on their trip itinerary. The Jackson Hole Rotary Club developed an idea for a beautifying sculpture project in the Town Square in 1953. They agreed that the concept should capture the most iconic qualities of Jackson Hole, and that the sculpture itself may become a town icon. The same year, members of the Rotary Club asked locals to donate antlers for the construction of an arch made entirely of antlers. The Rotary Club initially planned to build one arch in Town Square, until the finished structure proved to be immensely popular, attracting large crowds of admiring people and individuals wanting to take photos beneath the arch. With such positive reception, the Jackson Hole Rotary Club began raising funds to build four more arches in the Town Square.

 Due to the limited lifespan of natural elk antlers, the Jackson Hole community adopted the tradition of reconstructing the arch every 40-50 years. The Rotary Club developed this tradition to collaborate more with the community by partnering with local organizations. With the support of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, local Boy Scouts began hiking into the National Elk Refuge annually in late April to acquire fresh antlers. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation then auctioned these antlers off at the Jackson Elkfest each year to raise funds for wildlife conservation. Individuals who purchased antlers at this auction typically donated them to the Rotary Club to help construct new arches or repair damaged ones in Town Square.

Both admiring and maintaining the Jackson antler arches are ongoing traditions in this town. With the National Elk Refuge, a home to one of the world’s largest elk herds, located just north of the town of Jackson, elk antlers are a fitting medium for an installation that aims to illustrate the town’s identity. Since their creation, the arches have been the site of various community events, including auctions, Christmas decorating, competitive winter sports registrations, Easter egg hunts, staged cowboy shoot-outs, and Wyoming Statehood Day celebrations. For tourists visiting Jackson or passing through on their way to a National Park, they are sure to catch a glimpse of the arches as they pass by the Town Square off of Highway 89. Automobile tourists often make a stop to take photos beneath the arches, capturing a symbol of the American West and Wyoming’s natural landscape.

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