Yellowstone Science a Quarterly Publication Devoted to the Natural and Cultural Resources
Yellowstone Science A quarterly publication devoted to the natural and cultural resources Introducing the Davis Collection Native Americans and Geysers Waiting on the Beehive Volume 9 Number 4 Nineteenth century American landscape painters romanticized nature, which had become a symbol of national identity. Humans (note fleeing figure in lower left corner) were reduced to disproportionate size or omitted altogether. Con- versely, the dimensions of Giant Geyser in this engraving were magnified. “The Giant Geyser” from Picturesque America or The Land We Live In, edited by William Cullen Bryant, New York, Appleton and Co., 1872, p. 314. Myths, Memories, and Memorabilia For many people and for many rea- belief. In the process of doing so, he place to Susan Delin Davis since she sons, Yellowstone is legendary. Indeed, differentiates between the feelings of was a child growing up in Bozeman, it might be considered a land of legends. “fear” and “reverence” as they are attrib- Montana. She began collecting Yellow- Some of these myths and stories have had uted to things sacred. stone antiques in 1967. Since then, she a positive influence on how society per- Reverence is an emotion that many and her husband Jack Davis have as- ceives this place. By their very nature, cultures have felt toward Yellowstone. sembled the largest known private col- though, legends may not be well grounded From the American Indians, to the Euro- lection in the world. Among people who in fact and yet, they often contain a sym- American exploring parties, to today’s collect Yellowstone memorabilia, the bolic truth. This could be said of the visitors, Yellowstone is something of a Davis Collection is legendary.
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