Yellowstone National Park celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022, marking it as the first national park in the United States. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone Protection Act into law for the benefit of the people. The park has a rich history with archaeological sites indicating human inhabitation for over 11,000 years, Native American tribes residing in the area before the park was established, and the first European American expedition exploring Yellowstone in 1870. The U.S. Army was put in charge of overseeing the park in 1886. Yellowstone covers more than 2.2 million acres, making it larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
Yellowstone’s geography spans across three states, mostly in Wyoming, with portions also in Montana and Idaho. The park consists of forests, grasslands, and water, located at the convergence of the Great Plains, Great Basin, and Columbia Plateau. Notable features in Yellowstone include Yellowstone Lake, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, and the park’s classification under the highest (Class 1) category of clean air protection. The park also sits atop the Yellowstone Super Volcano, featuring over 10,000 hydrothermal features and more than 500 active geysers, including the iconic Old Faithful.
Yellowstone is home to a diverse range of wildlife, with the largest population of mammals in the lower 48 states. The park boasts 67 different species of mammals, and visitors are advised to maintain distance from wildlife. Grizzly bears, bison, and other iconic species can be found in Yellowstone, with the park having recovered populations of wolves and other predators in recent years. Notable bird and fish species can also be spotted in the park, with angling allowed at Yellowstone while avoiding intentional snagging of fish.
Visiting Yellowstone offers access to a range of recreational opportunities, with 1,000 miles of hiking trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, and ski and snowshoe trails available. The park saw record visitation numbers in recent years, with visitor numbers exceeding 4 million annually. Yellowstone’s weather can vary significantly, with temperatures ranging from a high of 80 degrees to a low of 9 degrees. The park receives an average of 150 inches of snowfall annually and experiences a range of weather conditions throughout the year.
Yellowstone has been shaped by its history of wildfires, with notable events like the 1988 wildfires that burned a third of the park. The landscape of Yellowstone has been naturally influenced by wildfires over thousands of years. Research and history at Yellowstone are extensive, with numerous archeological sites, historic buildings, and a research library collecting materials related to the park. The park has also been visited by several U.S. presidents, including Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, and Gerald Ford.
Celebrity connections to Yellowstone include the Yellowstone Club, a private community near the park that has been home to notable figures like Bill and Melinda Gates and Tom Brady. The popular drama series “Yellowstone” has brought further attention to the park, with record-breaking viewership for its fourth season. Inspirational quotes from figures like Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir highlight the significance of national parks like Yellowstone in preserving natural beauty and heritage for future generations.
