On the evening of September 9, 2026, at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming, a crowd will gather not for a painting or a gallery opening, but for a farewell of sorts—the unveiling of a bronze monument to a grizzly bear who never lived in a zoo, never performed a trick, and yet became one of the most famous animals on Earth. The sculpture, titled "Against All Odds," depicts Grizzly 399 with the four cubs she raised in 2020, and its dedication will open the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival.
The date was chosen deliberately. September 9—9/9—is a quiet nod to the bear's number, 399. Over more than two decades, Grizzly 399 became one of the world's most recognized grizzly bears, frequently seen near roadways in Grand Teton National Park and the surrounding region. She gave birth to a remarkable 18 cubs over her lifetime, and her descendants continue to thrive in the region.
In the spring of 2020, she appeared with four cubs, and the image of the mother bear with her quadruplets captivated audiences around the world.
Her story ended on October 22, 2024, when she was fatally struck by a vehicle in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson. The monument now taking shape in bronze stands as a lasting tribute to her extraordinary life.
The project began as the Grizzly 399 Legacy of Love Project, organized through the nonprofit Angels Without Wings, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Along the way, the monument made fundraising stops at the Edison House in downtown Salt Lake City, the Flying Saddle Resort in Alpine, and the Jackson Hole Winery near Indian Springs before its final journey to Jackson.
The sculpture itself is heroic in scale, roughly one and a half times the size of the real bear, and was created under the artistic leadership of Jocelyn Russell, a wildlife sculptor with more than sixty public monuments to her credit, including the celebrated racehorse Secretariat. She was assisted by Kristen Douglas-Seitz and Colleen Moore, and the piece began as an eight-inch maquette before being developed into a monumental bronze cast at Adonis Bronze Foundry in Utah.
The monument will be permanently installed near the museum's front entrance, to the right of the porte-cochère, joining the Sculpture Trail. The museum's chief curator of art, Dr. Kennis Forte, said the addition of Grizzly 399 to that setting illustrates "just how great of an impact a single animal can have."
The public dedication on September 9 is free and open to all. From 5 to 5:30 p.m., a ceremony will include remarks by renowned photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen. Mangelsen will join Russell for a public presentation in the museum auditorium from 6 to 7 p.m., offering insight into the creation of the sculpture and the legacy of the bear. Complimentary food and beverages will be served between 5 and 6 p.m., and an artist meet-and-greet will follow the dedication.
The unveiling serves as the opening act for the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival.
For the museum's executive director, Steve Seamons, the monument is about more than commemorating a beloved bear. "Grizzly 399 captured hearts far beyond Wyoming, and this monument gives visitors a place to reflect on what she represented—resilience, wildness, and the fragile balance between people and the animals we share this landscape with," he said. "We hope to share that legacy of coexistence with future generations, that those who cannot see her in the wild, may still marvel at her legacy."
The sculpture is being donated to the museum by the Grizzly 399 Legacy of Love Project, and its placement near the entrance ensures that visitors arriving at the museum will be greeted by the bear who, in life, greeted so many travelers along the roads of Grand Teton. For those who never had the chance to see her in the wild, the bronze will stand as a permanent place to reflect on what she represented—a wild animal who learned to live beside people, and in doing so, taught people something about themselves.