The Jackson Hole Guide from Jackson, Wyoming • 6

ft A6, Jackson Hole Guide, Wednesday, February 26, 1997 5, ellowstone turns 125 Region became world's first national park on March 1, 1872 By McCrystie Adams In the fall of 1871, Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden, leader of the U.S. Geological Survey, triumphantly returned from the first government expedition of "Colter's Hell" in Wyoming. Hayden was not the first to describe the geysers and waterfalls in the land at the headwaters of the Yellowstone River, but he had what no one before him did proof. Haydens proof came in the form of the Survey's photographer, William Henry Jackson. Jackson brought back the first photograph of Old Faithful and evidence that Mammoth Hot Springs and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone were real.

Jackson's photographs and Hayden's persistence helped turn the region into the nation's and the world's first national park on March 1, 1872. And what was once a radical idea has become a tourist destination for more than 3 million people from around the world every year. lb celebrate 125 years, park officials are kicking off a year's worth of events on the official birthday this Saturday by serving cake and punch and offering a commemorative stamp cancellation. From a new bison exhibit to an appreciation of the military's 30-year park adminis-tration to a scientific conference on the human experience, Yellowstone is examining its past as well as the never-ending controversies in the park today. Controversy about the park is nothing new.

Many Easterners in the 1800s refused to believe tales from the explorers before Hayden who described the now-famous geysers, hot springs and canyons of the region. The region was fancifully known as "Colter's Hell" after John Colter, credited with being the first white man in Yellowstone in 1807, told stories of the region. Later, explorers such as Nathaniel P. Langford, the first park superintendent, and Cornelius Hedges, toured the park in 1870. They were able to convince lawmakers the land was more valuable as a tourist attraction than for industry.

On Dec. 18, 1871, Montana territory's delegate William H. Clagett and Sen. George Pomeroy of Kansas simultaneously introduced the Yellow II1IIMM HI II HI I II II II i i- 4 Jr J' ft 1 mJ'. Jim' 111 Vr 'mmm 1 Photo by William Henry Jackson, 1872 This first photograph of Old Faithful was taken by William Henry Jackson while on the 1872 United States Geological Survey of what was then called "Colter's Hell." stone Park Act into the House of bound portfolio of his Yellowstone photographs on each desk.

Persuaded by a promise that no funding was necessary both houses passed a bill to create Yellowstone National Park, which was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. Grant thereby removed more than 3,300 square miles of land from settle ment by turning it into a "public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." Since that time the idea has flourished. In the United States, 374 places are now protected by the National Park Service, and more than 140 other nations have modeled their own national park system after the United States. Representatives and the Senate.

Congressional supporters argued that farming would be impossible at the elevation, and there were no known timber or mineral reserves in Yellowstone, according to park records. Meanwhile, Hayden and his supporters personally visited every representative, while Jackson placed a Photo coukiesy Jackson Hole Historical Society, 1873 Photographer William Henry Jackson became a driving force in creating Yellowstone as the nation's first national park with photographs he shot during the Hayden Survey of 1 872. Events to celebrate Yellowstone's 125 th birthday: Aug. 17: Military Appreciation Day, recognizing the military's 30-year administration of the park from 1886 to 191 6. Dedication of the new seikjuided walking tour of historic Fort Yellowstone, with military bands and re-enactments.

Aug. 25: National Park Service's 81st birthday celebration at Old Faithful, with national and state dignitaries. Oct. 12-14: Fourth Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: People and Place, the Human Experience in Greater Yellowstone. March 1: The Mammoth Post; Office will offer a commemorative stamp cancellation from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m. and park rangers will serve birthday cake and punch. Stamped, self-addressed envelopes can be mailed to the Postmaster at P.O. Box 9998, Yellowstone National Park, WY 821 90 for cancellation. April 20-26: National Parks Week, including a March for Parks in Livingston, Mont, and activities in area schools sponsored by the National Park Service and Greater Yellowstone Coalition.

Aug. 1 Dedication of a new bison exhibit at Canyon Visitor Center. William Henrv Jackson with hie 00UBrrcsY Jackson Hole historical socim; is- Yellowstone National Park. equipment on the summit of Mt. Washburn in.