The Pre-Park Years, 1795-1871
Tall Tales, Mysteries and Mountain Men
This is part two of two parts of the
Pre-Park story of Yellowstone. Read
part one.
 1865 --
Father Francis
Xavier Kuppens, a young Jesuit priest serving near Great Falls, Montana, was guided into
present-day Yellowstone Park by a group of Piegan Indians. Among other things, he visited
the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the geysers of the Firehole Basin. Later that
year, Kuppens had opportunity to describe his incredible journey to Acting Territorial
Governor Thomas Francis Meagher, who at that time is credited with suggesting that is such
a place of wonders did exist, it should be preserved as a national park.
(1: P.89-90)
1868 --
Frederick and Phillip Bottler became the first settlers between Bozeman and the present
Park. The Bottler Ranch was at first a jumping point for hunting and prospecting. (1: p.81)
1869 -- Three
mine workers named David E. Folsom, Charles W. Cook and William Peterson set out to
explore the Yellowstone region. They visited the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, saw the
teeming wildlife in the area, and experienced the geysers and boiling pools. According to
their recollection, they realized the area needed to be preserved from commercialization.
After returning from their outing, Cook and Folsom wrote articles about their trip, but
reputable magazine's refused to publish what they considered as unreliable stories. (1: p.91-101)
 1870 -- (Photo:
The Hayden Survey team, Red Butte, Wyoming. Hayden is seated at the far end
of the table and Jackson is standing at the far right. Click on the photo to hear
William Jackson talking about the rumors of the Yellowstone region.)
Following years of wild rumors about the Yellowstone region and on the heels of the
Folsom-Cook-Peterson party, a group of gold prospectors, curious private citizens and
government surveyors penetrated the Yellowstone region and beheld the truly glorious
wonders of the area. Those who gazed upon the area realized the priceless
nature of the
region and began striving to make certain the region was preserved from development so
that all Americans could have the opportunity to gaze upon and enjoy its wonders.
The party of gold prospectors included A. Bart Henderson,
James Gourley, Adam Miller, Ed Hibbard and a man simply known as "Dad." They
attempted to prospect for gold in the Lamar Valley area. Over the summer months they spent
in the area, they had near-death encounters with buffalo, grizzlies and Indians. Although
they named several natural features in the area, they were unsuccessful in regards to
finding gold, and the short era of the prospector in Yellowstone Park came to an end. (1: p.81-82)
The most famous of the 1870 parties which explored the
Yellowstone region was the group led by Henry D. Washburn, surveyor-general of the Montana
territory. This famous Washburn party, which is credited with "discovering"
Yellowstone, consisted of National Pitt Langford (the scribe of the group and later
selected as the first Park Superintendent), Cornelius Hedges and Walter Trumbull
(journalists who helped the nation to understand that the reality of the wonders of
Yellowstone following the expedition), Truman C. Everts (the oldest of the group, he became
separated from the party and hopelessly lost in the Yellowstone wilderness for
thirty-seven days as winter approached; he survived the ordeal and his incredible story
helped to further arose the nation's interest in Yellowstone) and First Lieutenant Gustavus
Doane (a veteran of the US Calvary, he headed the military escort which accompanied the
group and made an official report of the journey to US government). During the expedition,
Washburn named "Old Faithful." (3)
 1871 -- Upon hearing Langford's
account of the previous year's expedition into the Yellowstone region, Ferdinand V.
Hayden, a Civil War veteran and head of the US government's new geological survey, was
appointed by Congress to make an official exploration into the region. Hayden assembled a
variety of geologists, botanists and zoologists as well as artist Thomas Moran and
photographer William H. Jackson. The party was stunned by the wonders and beauty they saw.
Moran's watercolors and Jackson's photographs were proof of the wonders. Hayden made a
500-page report to Congress, and the lobbying to make Yellowstone a national
"park" began. (1: p.141-155)
Continue to the next chapter in
Yellowstone's history:
The Early Years,
1872-1915: Capturing America's Imagination
|
