Yellowstone National Park History

Study Notes

Yellowstone National Park is located in the western United States, primarily in Wyoming, with extensions into Montana and Idaho.
Established by the 42nd U.S. Congress with the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.

Yellowstone was the first national park in the U.S. and is considered the first national park in the world.
Native Americans lived in the region for at least 11,000 years, with organized exploration beginning in the late 1860s.
Initially managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, with the U.S. Army overseeing the park for 30 years (1886-1916).
In 1917, management was transferred to the National Park Service, which was created in 1916.

Spans an area of 3,468.4 sq mi (8,983 km2), featuring lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges.
Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-elevation lakes in North America, centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, a dormant volcano.
The caldera is considered the largest super volcano on the continent, having erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years.
Over half of the world's geysers and hydrothermal features are found in Yellowstone, fueled by ongoing volcanism.
Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area.

The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone.
Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians have been documented, including endangered or threatened species.
Unique species of plants are found in the vast forests and grasslands.
The park is home to grizzly bears, cougars, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk.

Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Forest fires occur in the park each year, with the 1988 fires burning nearly one-third of the park.
Recreational opportunities include hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and sightseeing.
Visitors can access the park through guided tours using snow coaches or snowmobiles during the winter.