Yellowstone National Park
, the crown jewel of all national parks in the United States, was the first national park to be established in any country. Featuring unique geothermal attractions such as the Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone National Park in the western United States draws millions of visitors each year.
Exploration
Native Americans lived in the Yellowstone area as many as 11,000 years ago, according to the National Park Service website (see "Additional Resources," below). Trappers and mountain men began to explore the region in the early 1800s.
Skepticism
Early explorers, including mountain man Jim Bridger, told stories about the geysers and other geothermal features, but few believed the wild tales.
A Suggestion
Thomas Francis Meagher, who was the acting territorial governor of the area in 1865, suggested that if a place with astounding natural beauty such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone existed, it should be preserved as a national park, according to Yellowstone.net (see "Additional Resources," below).
Congress Establishes Yellowstone As a Park
The 42nd Congress of the United States established Yellowstone as a National Park on March 1, 1872. The park, while mostly in Wyoming at its northwest corner, also includes land in Idaho and Montana.
Overcoming Obstacles
Since its establishment as a National Park in 1872, Yellowstone has survived at least one major earthquake in 1959 and wildfires that torched a portion of the park in 1988, to remain the first and foremost national park in the U.S. park system.
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