The Fascinating History of Yellowstone: America’s First National Park

It’s the birthplace of America’s National Park System that began over 150 years ago. This beautiful area of land helped change the attitude of American’s from viewing nature strictly as a resource to something in need of being preserved and protected for future generations. 

Yellowstone National Parks story is tale of perseverance, persistence, and dedication. It started this country on the road to saving its iconic landscapes from destruction and ingraining them into our national identity. 

In this article, we’ll explore the history of how Yellowstone came to be Americas first National Park. If you’d like to learn more about the history of the entire National Park System, check out our other awesome blog post! 

Origins

We’ll start out way back in the distant past, around 11,000 years ago. During this time, the first humans are believed to have inhabited the park and began hunting and fishing in the region. They relied heavily on the areas abundant reserves of obsidian to create tools and weapons. 

The Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805 passed through Montana within 50 miles of the future park. Local Native American tribes told expedition members about the Yellowstone region but ultimately, they chose not to investigate it. 

During the 19th century, many mountain men and trappers reported seeing pits of boiling mud, steaming rivers, and petrified trees in the area. These reports were all dismissed however as myths and tall tales. 

It wasn’t until 1869 that the first detailed survey of the Yellowstone region was taken. This was followed by another expedition in 1870 that spent a month collecting specimens and naming sites of interest. It was around this time that the idea of Yellowstone being set aside and protected gained serious consideration. 

Parks Creation

In 1860, naturalist Ferdinand V. Hayden and his party attempted to cross the Continental Divide over Two Ocean Plateau through Wyoming but heavy snow in the springtime prevented their passage. Eleven years later in 1871, Hayden was finally able to successfully explore the Yellowstone region with a larger expedition party. 

During this expedition, a comprehensive report was filed that including large-format photographs and landscape paintings of the region. It was because of this survey the U.S. Congress withdrew Yellowstone from public auction and on March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed The Act of Dedication law.   

With the signing of this law, Yellowstone became America’s first National Park. Hayden and his expedition were instrumental in the push to protect the region and as he stated, "setting aside the area as a pleasure ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” 

The creation of the park suffer its share of local opposition from those who feared the government restrictions on land would devastate the regional economy. Many pushed for the protective boundaries to be reduced in order to conduct mining, logging, and hunting activities. 

Yellowstone National Park had cleared the first successful hurdle in establishing itself as a protected natural space. However, just because the area received National Park status didn’t mean the threat of its destruction was over. The parks early history was just as tough as its creation. 

Early History

In 1872, Yellowstone’s first superintendent, Nathaniel P. Langford, was appointed by the Secretary of Interior to oversee and control the park. While the role put him in charge of Yellowstone, he was denied a salary, funding, and staff. This meant the park was vulnerable to those looking to raid the land of its resources. 

Langford spent the next 5 years attempting to convince Congress of the parks value to the country and its potential as a major international attraction. Despite his best efforts, the park suffered from severe poaching of its wildlife leading Langford to step down as superintendent in 1877. 

Volunteering to fill the empty space, trapper and Civil War veteran Philetus Norris took the position becoming Yellowstone’s second superintendent. Congress finally relented in June of 1878 and approved a salary and minimal funds for Norris and the park. With this, he hired mountain man Harry Yount to control poaching and vandalism effectively making him the first park ranger. 

Norris also helped expand Yellowstone’s crude network of roadways and facilities, increasing access to the park. A train station built in the early 1880s brought in thousands more visitors a year. 

Although Yellowstone was increasing in popularity amongst Americans, it still faced the problems of poachers and vandals. It wasn’t until 1886 when the U.S. Army arrived at the park that things began to change. They established permanent structures in the area, ultimately creating Fort Yellowstone. 

Over the next 30 years, the Army provided manpower to help enforce the parks policies. More legislature was successfully passed further protecting Yellowstone and paving the way for the creation of other National Parks including Mackinac and Yosemite. 

Later Years

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal relief policy created the Civilian Conservation Corps. This program was instrumental in developing Yellowstone’s facilities between 1933 and 1942 with projects including reforestation, camp ground development, trail construction, and fire-fighting work. The parks current road systems were built by the CCC. 

During World War II, Yellowstone fell into major disrepair as tourism drastically dropped. Bouncing back dramatically in the 1950s, the park needed to accommodate the surge in tourism, implementing their Mission 66 plan. Modern facilities were built with the goal of being completed by 1966, the parks 50th anniversary. 

In 1988, Yellowstone experienced the largest wildfire in park history, with 36% of parklands impacted. On August 20, 1988, more than 150,000 acres burned in a day that became known as Black Saturday. Some of the parks historic structures were threatened or damaged by the fires. 

Modern Day

Today, Yellowstone serves as a living legacy of American’s effort to preserve and protect the countries wild places. With its many cultural icons like the Old Faithful Geyser and Lower Falls contained within the parks boundaries, future generations will have a chance to experience the beauty and splendor of this natural monument. 

Within the parks 2.2 million acres, visitors can hike and bike numerous trails, watch wildlife in its natural habitat, or explore the lakes and streams by boat. Yellowstone still remains an important part of American identity and shows a willingness to come together and care for nature and wilderness.