Description
What is the National Grasslands Visitor Center pin?
This enameled metal pin from L.W. Bristol Classics is the official collectible for the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, South Dakota. The design features a black-footed ferret, the animal that has become the signature species of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland and one of the most closely watched wildlife recovery stories in North American conservation.
The National Grasslands Visitor Center sits at the edge of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland, a mixed-grass prairie in southwestern South Dakota managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. The Conata Basin area within the grassland is home to the most successful black-footed ferret reintroduction program the federal government has undertaken. Ferrets were declared extinct in the wild in 1979; by the early 2000s, a breeding and release program had rebuilt a wild population in this basin. The visitor center tells that story, along with the broader ecology of Great Plains grasslands.
Specifications
- Material: Enameled metal
- Pin size: 1″ die cut
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Finish: Colorful enamel front, brushed metal reverse
- Manufacturer: L.W. Bristol Classics (Bristol, TN)
- Made in: USA
Who is this for?
If you have been to the National Grasslands Visitor Center, this is the pin for it. At 1″ die cut, it reads cleanly on a hat brim, jacket lapel, or the canvas strap of a daypack. Small enough to carry a dozen without noticing the weight; specific enough to start a conversation.
If the black-footed ferret recovery is what brought you here, the pin works equally well as a standalone statement of support for one of the more remarkable American wildlife stories of the last 40 years.
For gift buyers: This pairs naturally with the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands Ferret Pin or the National Grasslands Visitor Center Patch for a small, lightweight grasslands set.
About the National Grasslands Visitor Center
The visitor center is in Wall, South Dakota, next to the Wall Ranger District office of the Nebraska National Forest system. Exhibits cover grassland wildlife and plants, grazing management, and the human history of the Great Plains. There is a theater showing short films on the grasslands, and staff can help with trip planning for Buffalo Gap National Grassland and the surrounding region.
The Buffalo Gap National Grassland covers approximately 591,000 acres across parts of four South Dakota counties. The Conata Basin section, accessible from the Badlands Loop Road, is where the ferret population has been concentrated. Night spotlight tours from late July through September let visitors watch the nocturnal ferrets in their prairie dog towns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pin made of?
Enameled metal, with a full-color design on the front and a brushed finish on the back. Made in the USA by L.W. Bristol Classics.
How big is the pin?
1″ die cut. It comes on a display card and weighs 0.3 oz.
Where is the National Grasslands Visitor Center?
In Wall, South Dakota, on the edge of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland. Wall is about 50 miles east of Rapid City along I-90. The visitor center is run by the U.S. Forest Service.
What is the black-footed ferret connection to the grasslands?
The Conata Basin area of Buffalo Gap National Grassland hosts one of the most successful black-footed ferret reintroduction programs in the United States. Ferrets were considered extinct in the wild by 1979. A Wyoming population was discovered in 1981, and breeding and reintroduction efforts eventually established wild populations at several sites, with Conata Basin becoming one of the most productive. The visitor center covers the full story.
Does buying this support the grasslands?
Yes. BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
Who makes this pin?
L.W. Bristol Classics, based in Bristol, Tennessee. They make collectible pins, hiking medallions, and commemorative items for parks and public lands across the country.
Are there other National Grasslands items?
Yes. The BHPFA shop carries a full range of National Grasslands items including the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands Ferret Pin, the Buffalo Gap Grasslands Hiking Medallion, the National Grasslands Visitor Center Patch, the National Grasslands Visitor Center Hiking Medallion, and the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands Map.
