Among the many stunning locations in the United States, Yellowstone National Park holds a unique position.

The park’s captivating hydrothermal wonders and diverse landscapes clearly illustrate the importance of safeguarding this land. As a nearby plaque at Madison Information Station highlights:

“On September 19, 1870, members of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition gathered at the junction of the Firehole and Gibbon Rivers for one last night of camping during their significant exploration of Yellowstone. They discussed the remarkable natural phenomena they had encountered. Cornelius Hedges proposed that these wonders should remain free of private ownership and be preserved for everyone to enjoy. This sentiment was shared among the group, leading to President Ulysses S. Grant signing the Act that established Yellowstone as the first National Park in the world on March 1, 1872.”

However, the story goes deeper. Here are five fascinating facts that every Yellowstone enthusiast should be aware of.

1. A Natural Sanctuary

Your trip to Yellowstone is also a story of how nature protected itself.

According to Randall K. Wilson, a professor of Environmental Studies at Gettysburg College and author of “A Place Called Yellowstone: The Epic History of the World’s First National Park” (Counterpoint Press), Indigenous peoples roamed the region for thousands of years. Despite this, early western settlers were deterred by the park’s volatile geology and harsh winters.

“This led to Yellowstone serving as a wildlife haven, as bison, which faced severe decline elsewhere, found refuge here, untouched by Euro-American settlement,” he explained. “It took a long time, but by the 1870s, when serious explorations of the area commenced, it remained largely pristine and unclaimed, making it eligible for protection.”

2. Practical Considerations

The early motivations for preserving the area were not entirely noble.

“The Northern Pacific railroad and boosters from Montana territory were primarily looking to boost the local economy, achieve statehood, and attract settlers,” Wilson noted. “Conservation was not their initial focus. The thought was that by protecting the area and keeping settlers out, it could become a park that would draw tourists for the railroad’s benefit.”

He further explained that lawmakers were influenced by railway interests rather than a widespread conservation mindset. “It wasn’t that members of Congress were driven by a love of nature, reading Thoreau, or harbouring romantic ideals. The motivation was quite practical,” he added.

He also emphasized that the decision to designate Yellowstone as a national park, rather than a state park as originally planned, stemmed from practical concerns. “The park extended beyond just Montana, reaching into Wyoming and a bit into Idaho. There were no existing precedents for a territorial park, as all three areas were territories at that time, and jurisdictional disputes contributed to it being designated as a national park,” Wilson remarked. “This wasn’t about setting up a national park system for conservation.”

3. Calling for Assistance

Managing the first national park presented significant hurdles.

“In the decade following the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, it faced serious threats from those intent on exploiting its natural resources. Poachers hunted wildlife, souvenir hunters damaged geysers and hot springs, and camps were constructed for tourists complete with laundry and bathing amenities near hot springs,” as noted on Yellowstone National Park’s website.

To combat these challenges, the Army was summoned in 1886, maintaining a protective presence in the park for over 30 years. Visitors can still see the historic Fort Yellowstone structures in the Mammoth Hot Springs area.

Initially, Wilson noted, enforcement against poaching was limited. “At that time, there were no penalties for killing wildlife. Offenders faced no fines or imprisonment; the most that could be done was to escort them out, which meant they could easily return to commit the same act,” he explained.

However, a significant step was taken in 1894 with the introduction of the first wildlife protection law, making it illegal to hunt large game in Yellowstone. This was further strengthened with the creation of the National Park Service in 1916, which introduced additional conservation regulations.

Today, trespassing and vandalizing the park’s thermal features are strictly forbidden, although several public spring facilities exist outside its boundaries. Visitors who violate park rules can be arrested as Yellowstone has its own jail and justice center.

4. Bear Interactions

Visitors are highly discouraged from engaging with bears, although this wasn’t always the practice.

In the early days, park hotels discovered that tossing out garbage at night attracted bears.

“They thought, ‘Why not turn this into a tourist attraction? After dinner, guests could come out back and watch bears rummage through the trash,’” Wilson explained. “In fact, it was common for people as early as the 1890s to get hurt because they got too close to the bears.”

By 1931, the park recorded around 48 injuries from bear encounters and over 100 property damage incidents each year. This trend persisted until the implementation of bear management strategies in 1960.

5. Looking Ahead

A supervolcano lies underneath Yellowstone National Park, driving its hydrothermal features.

“Scientists are more concerned with when it will erupt again rather than if it will,” as is noted in a park video.

“Historically, roughly every 600,000 years, there’s been a major eruption, and the last one occurred about 600,000 years ago,” remarked Wilson.

However, there’s nothing to worry about—the park ensures that the volcano is under constant surveillance, so they’ll receive ample warning if anything changes.