One of the first people generally credited with conceptualizing a "national park" was George Catlin (1796-1872), a self-taught artist who traveled extensively among the native peoples of North America, while sketching and painting portraits, landscapes, and scenes from daily Indian life. On a trip to the Dakotas in 1832, he worried about the impact of America's westward expansion on Indian civilization, wildlife, and wilderness. They might be preserved, he wrote, "by some great protecting policy of government . . . in a magnificent park . . . . A nation's park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their nature's beauty!"
The idea had gained some acceptance years later, when in 1864 Congress donated Yosemite Valley to California for preservation as a state park.
The establishment of Yellowstone National Park by act of Congress on March 1, 1872, for the first time signified that public lands were to be set aside and administered by the federal government "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." This enscription is carved into the rock of the Teddy Roosevelt Arch, the official entranceway at the north gate to Yellowstone from Gardiner, Montana. Please select a product of interest:
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Lookout Tower - Wolves
Wolf enthusiasts are sure to appreciate this spectacular rendering by master of Realism, Carl Brenders. In Lookout Tower -... |
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Lower Falls
Viewed from the trail to Artist Point, late afternoon light washes across the top of the Lower Falls of the... |
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Lower Falls from Below
This is a an original historical hand-colored photo by F.J. or J.E. Haynes, circa 1920/30's of a Yellowstone Lower Falls... |
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Macho Bull Buffalo
A Yellowstone buffalo bull pauses in a driving autumn snowstorm amid the seed heads of sun-cured grasses. His left rear... |
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Mammoth Hot Springs Collage
This wonderful collage expresses a myriad of what makes Yellowstone National Park a national treasure. This highly detailed pen and... |
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Mammoth Terraces
The Mammoth Terraces are made of travertine, a type of limestone (calcium carbonate) deposited when hot acidic water dissolves suterranean... |
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Moose
The elusive bull moose forages a pond in Yellowstone. This beautiful photo has been permanently transferred to a slate medium... |
Moose Earrings
These wonderful Moose Earrings made from sterling silver and has a 12 karat gold filled spiral and semi-precious stone soldered... |
Moose Necklace
This wonderful Moose Necklace is made from sterling silver and has a 12 karat gold filled spiral and semi-precious stone... |
Moose Pin/Tack
This wonderful Moose Pin/Tack is made from sterling silver and has a 12 karat gold filled spiral and semi-precious stone... |
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Morning
This wonderful rendition, (Nancy's first limited edition of an elk in 4 years!) is available as either a signed and... |
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