Yellowstone National Park is North America’s first National Forest. On March 1 1872, President Ulysses S Grant signed a bill making Yellowstone the first federally protected landmass in the United States. The park boundaries span an area larger than the state of Delaware and Rhode Island, combined. This vast stretch of wildness reaches through three states, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.

Fort Yellowstone-Mammoth Hot Springs Historic district, located on the northwestern portion of Yellowstone, represents the very first permanent buildings constructed on park grounds. In 1890, the Army constructed Fort Yellowstone to house troops stationed in the park tasked with the enforcement of the Sundry Civil Act of 1883. The Secretary of Interior called upon the Secretary of War to allocate troops in the Yellowstone territory. These troops protected the game, timber and objects of interest.

In the early 1900s, the Army constructed backcountry cabins to house troops stationed in remote regions of the park. These troops patrolled secluded areas in search of poachers and souvenir hunters. Spaced nearly 16 miles from the next, these cabins are only accessible by foot or horseback. Today, the National Park Service continues using the cabins for backcountry patrol.

In 1930, the Fish and Wildlife Service constructed the Lake Fish Hatchery located on the north shore of Yellowstone Lake. The Fish and Wildlife Service constructed the facility for the purpose of conservation. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high altitude lake in the United States. Located at 7,733 feet above sea level, the lake is 20 miles long and 14 miles wide. Today the Fish and Wildlife and National Park Service use the Lake Fish Hatchery for continued research on Yellowstone Lake.

Yearly, more than 200,000 visitors experience Yellowstone National Parks picturesque beauty. Today, nature enthusiasts enjoy hiking along over 1100 miles of trails, and camping in one of the parks 12 campgrounds. Visitors also appreciate Yellowstone’s well preserved history.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student Mindy Honeycutt