A Most Fortunate Thing...
Before the Army arrived in Yellowstone, the park's future was in doubt. Vandals destroyed thermal features, squatters sawed down trees and poachers decimated herds of wildlife. Perhaps the Army's greatest contribution to Yellowstone's history was bringing law and order to the park.
In the winter of 1894, soldiers caught the notorious poacher Ed Howell killing buffalo. Because no laws existed to prosecute Howell, public indignation caused Representative Lacey of Iowa to propose a bill "to protect the birds and animals in Yellowstone National Park, and to punish crimes in said park..."
The House and Senate quickly passed what became known as the Lacey Act. This and other laws enacted after Howell's capture were called by Yellowstone's Commander, Captain Anderson, "the most fortunate thing that ever happened to the park."
Photo Captions
1) This new guardhouse (green building, end of row) was built in 1911 and stills serves as the lockup for violators of the regulations protecting visitors and the wonders of Yellowstone National Park.
2) Officers of the Sixth Cavalry pose with confiscated buffalo heads-probably those taken from poacher Ed Howell.
Marker is on Officer's Row 0.2 miles south of North Entrance Road - eastbound lanes, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
