Yellowstone, Part II

We shared our Yellowstone experience with people from around the world.  They came from England, Brazil, China, India, France, Canada, Russia, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany and more.  American tourists included a full diversity of citizens.  Young park employees were from throughout the world.  What a great American destination for us all to enjoy.

Since its establishment as the world’s first national park back in 1872,Yellowstone has drawn people from all over the world.  First, under the auspices of the military, the headquarters were at Fort Yellowstone. More military buildings were erected at areas of major attraction.  The personnel were in the army.  That changed with the establishment of the National Park Service. 

The Museum of the National Park Ranger tells the story of the men and women who manage the entrances, answer our questions, and protect us from animals and animals from us.  This museum is in the Norris Soldier Station, built in 1908.

 

Displays show the changing roles of the men and women who have been rangers.  We also learned that both President Gerald Ford and his son were rangers at Yellowstone.

In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt came to the park to dedicate the Roosevelt Arch. 

Visitors came on trains to see the park.  They toured in stagecoaches.  Then horses were banned from the roads to make room for the automobile.  Now the roads are filled with cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and, yes, recreational vehicles.  In fact, the roads are currently being widened to make it easier to come in motor homes such as ours or groups of Prowlers like these.

We next visited Norris Geyser Basin.  Words will not serve so here are some of the photographs we took.

Steamboat whose last major eruption was in 2013

Porcelain Spring

Crackling Lake

Vixen Geyser

The Blue Mud Steam Vent

At the end of the day, our way home was blocked by a herd of elk who find the grassy area
near Mammoth Lodge a safe refuge from potential bear attacks.  The ranger made sure we were safe from elk attack.

 As our cameras clicked, a female bugled.  Her call was answered by a young elk who had wandered off.  Soon they were bugling as they ran toward each other.  Dinner time.