Photo: Grand Staircase Manitoba Legislative Building

Two life sized bronze statues of North American bison flank the Grand Staircase in the Legislative Building, downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The building was completed in 1920.

The Grand Staircase sits just inside the main entrance to the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg. Despite the grandeur of the staircase itself, perhaps the most striking thing about this space, is the two life sized bronze statues of North American bison situated on either side of the staircase.

Modeled by the same creator of the famous Golden Boy statue that sits on the top of the Legislative Dome, Charles Gardet, each bison weighs about 2,268 kilograms and there's an interesting story that tells how the bison were installed by the staircase. Apparently the floor was flooded and then frozen so that each bison could be slid into the space on huge slabs of ice - all so that the floor wouldn't be damaged. Just as bulls guard the entrances to temples around the world, these bison guard the entrance to the staircase - except they are the Canadian version.

This room is a perfect square, measuring 66. ... continue below the picture...

This picture is part of the photo album "Winnipeg Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.

... 6 feet on each side and the staircase itself is made of three sets of thirteen steps each and is made of Carrara marble - the finest marble in the world which comes from the Tuscany in Italy.

The Legislative Building is the meeting place of the Legislative Assembly in Manitoba and was completed in 1920.

The Grand Staircase of the Manitoba Legislative Building flanked on each side by life sized bronze statues of two North American Bison, City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.