The evolving national park idea : Yellowstone National Park, 1872-1890 by Langdon Smith, Jr A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Earth Sciences Montana State University © Copyright by Langdon Smith, Jr (1999) Abstract: The creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 is considered by many the birthplace of the national park idea, which spawned hundreds of parks around the world. However, this significance was not apparent during Yellowstone's first few years, when the Park was virtually ignored by the government. During a key period from 1872 to 1890, when the national park idea began to spread, Americans defined the character of Yellowstone and the national park idea. This thesis reconstructs the process Yellowstone and the national park idea went through to evolve from a vague idea to an established national icon. It relies on local newspaper and national magazine coverage, reports and correspondence from the park's early superintendents, documents from the Interior Department and U.S. Congress, Yellowstone guidebooks and published and unpublished accounts by visitors. This thesis demonstrates that local residents living near Yellowstone played an important role discovering the major attractions within the Park, and establishing a pattern of human use that remains almost unchanged today. Yellowstone's custodians, civilian and military superintendents, fought off monopolistic economic interests, found a balance between development and preservation, and defined a management system that became the National Park Service. National visitors field tested the national park idea, by learning what to do and how to behave in Yellowstone. The increasing visitor numbers were also a litmus test for Yellowstone, proving it had become truly a "national" park. This study should help us to better understand our relationship with Yellowstone, and add to our understanding of the origins of the national park idea. It should also contribute to the discussion about American's fascination with the western landscape. THE EVOLVING NATIONAL PARK IDEA: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, 1872-1890 by Langdon Smith Jr. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Earth Sciences MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana April 1999 © COPYRIGHT by Langdon Smith Jr. 1999 All Rights Reserved ii <, APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Langdon Smith Jr. This thesis has been read by each member of the thesis committee and has been found to be satisfactory regarding content, English usage, format, citations, bibliographic style, and consistency, and is ready for submission to the College of Graduate Studies. -yJJ/.V-__ Date Chairperson, GraduaJe^Zomfmne^Y^ Approved for the Major Department A, —' —" ' ' — — — —— 1' —* — — ' — — ' ' M Date Head, Major Department Approved for the College of Graduate Studies Date Graduate Dean iii STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's degree at Montana State University-Bozemanz I agree that the Library shall make it available to borrowers under rules of the Library. If I have indicated my intention to copyright this thesis by including a copyright notice page, copying is allowable only for scholarly purposes, consistent with "fair use" as prescribed in the U.S. Copyright Law. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this thesis in whole or in parts may be granted only by the copyright holder. S ig n atu re D ate iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to thank the members of his committee - Dr. William Wyckoff (Committee Chairman), Dr. Kathy Hansen and Dr. Joseph Ashley. I thank Dr. Wyckoff for his close attention to my progress, his tireless enthusiasm, and his mentorship as I began a new career as a geographer. I thank Dr. Hansen for her strong interest in this project and for pointing me in the direction of historical geography. I thank Dr. Ashley for his contributions to this thesis, and his incredible knowledge of this region. I would also like to thank the very supportive and professional staff members of the Archives and Photo Archives of Yellowstone National Park. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Laura, and sons, Kelly and Conner, for their patience while I spent long hours at the computer or buried in the archives of Yellowstone. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION................................................................................................ I Rationale................................................................................................... 4 Conceptual Framework............................................................................ 6 The Historical Context...................................................................... 16 Sources.................................................................................................... 31 THE LOCAL'S EXPERIENCE WITH YELLOWSTONE................................... 34 Locals as Explorers................................................................................. 37 Locals as Tourists.................................................................................... 41 Locals as Entrepreneurs......................................................................... 52 Locals as Critics....................................................................................... 66 Summary................................................................................................. 68 THE CUSTODIAL EXPERIENCE IN YELLOWSTONE................................... 72 Custodians as Settlers............................................................................. 75 Custodians as Scientists.......................................................................... 80 Improving Nature and Exploiting Resources...................................... 86 The Growing Importance of Wildlife.................................................... 92 Balancing Development and Preservation........................................... 96 Building the Road and Trail Network................................................... 99 Developing a Management System......................... 103 Summary............................................................................................... 109 THE NATIONAL VIEWPOINT...................................................................... 113 Publications Influencing Congress and Federal Agencies................ 114 The U.S: Congress................................................................................. 125 The Interior Department.............................................. 136 The National Visitors........................................................................... 141 Guiding the way in Yellowstone......................................................... 158 AFTER 18 YEARS - A FUNCTIONING NATIONAL PARK....................... 167 Summary............................................................................................... 167 Conclusion and Future Implications.................................................... 175 REFERENCES CITED....................................... 187 APPENDICES............................ 196 Appendix A: Organic A ct..................................................................... 197 Appendix B: Visitor Numbers.............................................................. 199 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Yellowstone National Park......................................................... ................... 2 2. Hayden's Geological Survey......................................................................... 22 3. Thomas Moran's Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone................................. 28 4. The Bottler Ranch......................................................................................... 44 5. Fishing Cone.................. 46 6. Horr and McCartney's Hotel........................................................................ 54 7. The Sallie...................................................................................................... 57 8. A Yellowstone Coal M ine............................................................................. 61 9. Fort Yellowstone........................................................................................... 78 10. The Hoodoos................................................................................................ 83 11. Sketch Artist................................................................................................. 85 12. Liberty Cap.................................................................................................. 89 13. Snowbound Elk........................................................................................... 95 14. Mud Volcano Cabin.................................................................................. 107 15. Cooke City Railroad Route....................................................................... 120 16. The Northern Pacific Arrives................................................................... 143 17. The National Hotel.......... ;........................................................................ 149 18. A Yellowstone Coach............................................................................... 150 19. Camping Out in Yellowstone................................................................... 153 V ll ABSTRACT The creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 is considered by many