Yellowstone Homestead Grant
America's first national park, established by law in 1872.
The Yellowstone National Park Protection Act was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, establishing Yellowstone as the first national park in the US and widely understood to be the first national park in the world. The park spans 3,468.4 sq mi (8,983 km2) mainly in northwest Wyoming, with small portions in Montana and Idaho. It is known for its wildlife and geothermal features, especially the Old Faithful geyser. The park is part of the South Central Rockies forests ecoregion, with subalpine forest as the most abundant biome. Hundreds of structures have been built and are protected for their architectural and historical significance, and researchers have examined more than one thousand indigenous archaeological sites.
Quick Facts
- Originator
- 42nd U.S. Congress
- Nature
- National park established by the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act
- First mentioned
- March 1, 1872
Lore & Background
The park was established by the 42nd U.S. Congress through the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. Management originally fell under the U.S. Department of the Interior, with Columbus Delano as the first Secretary of the Interior to supervise the park. The U.S. Army was commissioned to oversee management for 30 years between 1886 and 1916. In 1917, administration was transferred to the National Park Service, created the previous year.
The park covers 3,468.4 sq mi (8,983 km2) and contains Yellowstone Lake, one of the largest high-elevation lakes in North America, covering part of the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest super volcano on the continent. The caldera is considered a dormant volcano, having erupted with tremendous force twice in the last two million years. Well over half of the world's geysers and hydrothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by ongoing volcanism. In 1978, Yellowstone was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Reader's Guide
Yellowstone National Park offers numerous recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and sightseeing. Paved roads provide close access to major geothermal areas as well as some lakes and waterfalls. During winter, visitors often access the park by guided tours using snow coaches or snowmobiles. The park is inhabited by grizzly bears, cougars, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk.
The Yellowstone Park bison herd is the oldest and largest public bison herd in the United States. Forest fires occur each year; in the large forest fires of 1988, over one-third of the park was burnt. Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians have been documented, including several that are endangered or threatened. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone.
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