You're watching Inside Yellowstone
Some national parks preserve the history of old
military forts. In Yellowstone the opposite is true.
Our military fort once preserved the national park.
As the world's first national park, Yellowstone
was established in 1872 over 40 years before the
National Park Service was created.
With limited funds and staffing, the park
fell victim to vandals, squatters and poachers.
In 1886 Congress refused to appropriate any funds
to administer the park, so in desperation,
the park turned to the army for help.
The U.S. Cavalry soon arrived and began to restore order.
The cavalry was headquarted at Mammoth Hot Springs.
A few soldiers were sent to outposts where they
could patrol the rest of the park on horses.
In the winter, soldiers patrolled on skis.
After living in temporary buildings for five harsh
winters the army realized they might be staying awhile,
and so they began to build a permanent post.
Many of the wooden clapboard and stone buildings in Mammoth
Village are the historic army offices and quarters.
In 1916 the National Park Service was created.
Two years later the park service took over management
of Yellowstone employing many of the military
personnel already stationed in the park.
Park rangers modeled much of their early duties
after the army personnel who protected Yellowstone
for 32 years. Though we no longer sound the canon
or rise to reveille, our uniforms still
resemble those of the military.
Park administrative headquarters remain in Mammoth
and the historic army buildings are still used for
offices and staff housing. One of the large stone
buildings is now the Albright Visitor Center.
Built in 1909, it was originally the bachelor
officers' quarters. You can tour the historic
district with a ranger, or on your own, using the
self-guiding tour brochure available at the visitor center.
Fort Yellowstone is a reminder of the critical role
the army played in preserving the first
national park during its formative years.