The Orleans Bicentennial Bison for the”Bison-centennial” was designed to showcase the past and present of Historic Orleans. The newly renovated Bicentennial Park in which the bison is now permanently located on W. Vincennes Road is said to be an old “Buffalo Trace” which the woods bison in Indiana traveled to salt licks such as French Lick. The main idea for the dogwood shapes with historical images and a collage of past and present images and signs was created by Orleans High School Art student, Annie Johnson. This idea was formatted to fit the bison and images from past art projects and historical drawings were added by classmates and the instructor, Dr. Leah Morgan.

The left side of the bison features a large dogwood motif with a state seal in the middle, the water tower downtown, a facsimile of the old Bandstand downtown along with an “Orleans 200” simplified logo, the Orleans welcome sign on the north highway 37, and the American Legion Veteran’s Memorial. On the cloud towards the hindquarters are featured the Antiques sign from the present day antique shop, an Aetna sign representing a past gasoline service station on the square, the Roberts building which became Herle’s Cafe, a Paradise Pizza sign, the Centennial Sycamore, the pink Coppick-Conner (Miracle) Queen Anne style house which was on the north-west corner of square and recently burned down, a Kirby Hardware sign, and the Water Tower on the North side of Orleans. Dogwood branches are featured throughout the design to tie features together.

The right side of the bison features several historical and present day items in the cloud shape including the 1995 addition of Orleans High School with a “Bulldog” mascot and paw prints, the 1910 Pierce Firetruck, the Orleans Public Library, a Marathon sign, an antique Orleans Oil Shell Truck, the bicentennial relay torch, a sign from Wheat's Service and Collision, a Carter’s Barn sign, the Rexall Drug Store sign along with the “Soda” sign on the old drugstore at 337 and 37, the “Orleans Academy” or old grade school on the square, the Monon train, a Hall Trucking sign, the corner antique store (Hollowell Corner), A J&S Sportswear sign, a Gallions market sign, and the 2016 Orleans Advanced Art Class. Dogwood branches tie the design together and represent Orleans as the Dogwood Capital of Indiana.

Featured on the large right Dogwood medallion is the town seal, the bell displayed on the town square which capped the Orleans Academy, the “Stetson House”, the Orleans Depot with a Monon sign, and town fountain on the square.

The art is a collage of many past and present features of Orleans. It is only a snapshot of the many fine memories, signs, businesses, and features that make Orleans out home town. Many past and present businesses and memories are preserved in snapshots and the hearts and minds of former and present Orleans residents.

Orleans Advanced Art Students who worked on the bison were Dixie Atkins, Brooklyn Cromwell, Sophie Crowder, Felicity Curtsinger, Lauren Dibert, Nikki Hanner, Gabbi Jewell, Annie Johnson, Madison Jones, Brayden Kirkman, Hannah Merry, Halle Minton, Amelia Mullins, Jenna Pearson, Kendra Taylor, Jenna Whalin, and Instructor, Dr.Leah Morgan. Walker Ballard, welding student assistant, also contributed to the painting. Art from previous year students that was used for the Bicentennial Historical Drawing book was also utilized along with historic photographs.