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The herd of bison statues on Dickerson Pike isn't just another Music City oddity. Much like the polar bears of Edgehill and Charlotte Pike's pink elephant, there's a story behind the welcoming committee.

Centuries ago, the animal was native to the state and particularly prominent in Middle Tennessee. Many of Nashville's roads were inspired by the paths in which bison followed to reach salt licks, or areas in the city where salt was naturally found in the ground.

Early inhabitants and explorers would follow the traces, putting them in close proximity to large quantities of the game animal to hunt for food and clothing. As time wore on and the area's population grew, bison numbers were dwindling. By 1823, it's believed they had disappeared from the state entirely.

The statues situated on Dickerson Pike were unveiled in 2009 and serve as a reminder of the animal's local legacy.