One of the most famous of all Jackson Hole’s attractions (and the one with the most selfies taken in front of) is the antler arches: all 4 of them at the corners of the park of Jackson Town Square. If you ever wondered about these arches, here are the most frequently asked questions and their answers:
Are the antlers real?
Yes. They are recovered after bull (male) elk shed their antlers between January and April each year. The antlers for the arch have traditionally been found by local Boy Scouts of America troops from elk on the National Elk Refuge (across from Flat Creek Inn).
When were they first built?
The first was built in 1953 and sponsored by the Jackson Hole Rotary Club. The other 3 arches were built in the following years. Interestingly, there’s an even larger antler arch, built around the same time, that spans the roadway to enter Afton, Wyoming (about 60 miles south of Jackson).
How were they built?
As shown in this video, the antlers are held together by gravity and surround what appears to be a steel frame. Each arch requires around 2,000 antlers and weighs approximately 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg).
What is the history of the antler arches?
As antlers are bones, they naturally degrade over time. This means that about every 50 or 60 years all the antlers must be replaced on the arches. The last (and only) time this happened was between 2007 and 2013. The rotary club auctioned off the old antlers to fund the building of new arches.
There you are: the stories of five different antler arches. If you’re really patient, set a reminder for 2060, when you might bring home your very own antler from the arches when the town auctions off this rendition of Jackson Hole history.
Growing up, Dillon could see the Grand Teton from his house on a clear day. His family took him to nearby national parks so often that he took the parks for granted. It took the rigors of life to teach him how good he had it, and he now spends as much time in the mountains as possible.
Photo by Livin4wheel on Unsplash
