History of Yellowstone National Park in Timeline

Yellowstone National Park, primarily located in Wyoming with portions in Montana and Idaho, was established on March 1, 1872, by President Ulysses S. Grant. It is recognized as the first national park in the U.S. and globally. Renowned for its diverse wildlife and geothermal activity, the park's most popular attraction is the Old Faithful geyser. Subalpine forest is the dominant biome, and the park is part of the South Central Rockies forests ecoregion.

1900: Lacey Act provides legal support

In 1900, the Lacey Act provided legal support for officials prosecuting poachers in Yellowstone.

1901: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy connection opened via Cody

In 1901, a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad connection opened via Cody, increasing access to Yellowstone National Park.

1902: Rail line extended to Gardiner station

In 1902, the Northern Pacific Railroad spur line was extended to Gardiner station, where passengers switched to stagecoach.

1902: Bison Population

In 1902, the bison population in Yellowstone National Park numbered less than 50.

1903: Old Faithful Inn Built

Construction of the Old Faithful Inn occurred from 1903 to 1904.

1904: Old Faithful Inn Built

Construction of the Old Faithful Inn occurred from 1903 to 1904.

1908: Union Pacific Railroad connection to West Yellowstone

In 1908, a Union Pacific Railroad connection opened to West Yellowstone, further improving access to the park.

1910: Visitor Interaction with Black Bears

Starting in 1910, black bears became a park symbol due to visitor interaction with the bears in Yellowstone National Park.

1914: Funding for Animal Destruction

Starting in 1914, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds to be used for destroying wolves, prairie dogs, and other animals injurious to agriculture and animal husbandry on public lands, impacting Yellowstone's wildlife.

1915: Automobile conflicts with horse-drawn transportation

By 1915, the increasing number of automobiles entering Yellowstone Park, numbering 1,000 per year, resulted in conflicts with horses and horse-drawn transportation, eventually leading to a prohibition of horse travel on roads.

1915: Automobiles admitted in phases

In 1915, automobiles were first admitted into Yellowstone National Park in phases.

1916: U.S. Army management of Yellowstone ends

In 1916, the U.S. Army's 30-year oversight of Yellowstone National Park concluded.

1916: National Park Service Created

In 1916, when the National Park Service was created, many of the management principles developed by the army were adopted by the new agency.

1917: Administration transferred to National Park Service

In 1917, the administration of Yellowstone National Park was transferred to the National Park Service, which had been created the previous year.

October 31, 1918: Army control ends, National Park Service takes over

On October 31, 1918, the U.S. Army turned control of Yellowstone National Park over to the National Park Service.

1918: Previous Yellowstone River Record

In 1918, the Yellowstone River reached a height of 11.5 feet (3.5 m).

1921: Mammoth School Opens

In 1921, the Mammoth School, created by the Park Service, opened.

1926: Wolf Extermination

By 1926, Park Service hunters had killed 136 wolves in Yellowstone National Park as part of efforts to protect elk populations.

1927: Milwaukee Road connection to Gallatin Gateway

In 1927, a Milwaukee Road connection opened to Gallatin Gateway near Bozeman, also motorcoaching visitors via West Yellowstone.

1933: Civilian Conservation Corps begins work

In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began playing a major role in developing Yellowstone facilities.

1933: Coldest Temperature Recorded

In 1933, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Yellowstone was −66 °F (−54 °C).

1935: End of Extermination Practice

In 1935, the National Park Service ended the practice of exterminating wolves and other animals in Yellowstone National Park.

1942: Civilian Conservation Corps ends work

In 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) ended playing a major role in developing Yellowstone facilities.

1959: Hebgen Lake Earthquake

In 1959, the 7.2‑magnitude Hebgen Lake earthquake occurred just outside the northwest boundary of Yellowstone National Park. This quake triggered a huge landslide, which caused a partial dam collapse on Hebgen Lake and created Earthquake Lake. Twenty-eight people were killed, and property damage was extensive.

1963: Leopold Report

In 1963, after public controversy regarding the forced reduction of the elk population in Yellowstone, the United States Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall appointed an advisory board to collect scientific data to inform future wildlife management of the national parks, leading to the Leopold Report.

1966: Mission 66 planned completion

In 1966, Mission 66 was planned to be completed in honor of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service, an effort to modernize and expand park service facilities in Yellowstone.

1970: Policy Change Regarding Bears

In 1970, park officials changed their policy and started a program to educate the public on the dangers of close contact with bears.

1973: Endangered Species Act

With the passing of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, the wolf was one of the first mammal species listed.

June 30, 1975: Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake

On June 30, 1975, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck inside Yellowstone National Park, resulting in minimal damage.

July 28, 1975: Grizzly Listed as Threatened

On July 28, 1975, the grizzly bear was initially listed as a threatened species in the contiguous United States by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

October 26, 1976: Designated International Biosphere Reserve

On October 26, 1976, Yellowstone was designated an International Biosphere Reserve.

September 8, 1978: Designated UN World Heritage Site

On September 8, 1978, Yellowstone was designated a UN World Heritage Site.

1978: Yellowstone named a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1978, Yellowstone was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its ecological and geological significance.

February 22, 1980: Largest Earthquake Since February 22, 1980

On March 30, 2014, the magnitude 4.8 earthquake was the largest earthquake to hit the park since February 22, 1980.

1980: Mount St. Helens eruption

The text makes reference to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in comparison to the Yellowstone Caldera. The Yellowstone eruption 640,000 years ago was 1,000 times larger.

1983: Earthquake Swarms

Between 1983 and 2008, there have been 70 earthquake swarms in Yellowstone National Park.

1985: Earthquake Swarm

For three months in 1985, 3,000 minor earthquakes were detected in the northwestern section of Yellowstone National Park.

July 21, 1987: Teton-Yellowstone Tornado

On July 21, 1987, the most powerful tornado recorded in Wyoming, the Teton–Yellowstone tornado, touched down in the Teton Wilderness and hit Yellowstone National Park. It was classified as an F4 tornado.

August 20, 1988: Black Saturday

On August 20, 1988, known as "Black Saturday," strong winds caused the Yellowstone fires to expand rapidly, burning more than 150,000 acres.

1988: 1988 Fires

Based on knowledge gained from the 1988 fires, land management agencies throughout the United States implemented changes in fire management policies.

1988: Forest fires damage Grant Village

In 1988, the enormous forest fires damaged much of Grant Village in Yellowstone, leading to structures being rebuilt in the traditional style.

1992: New Fire Management Plan Adopted

By 1992, Yellowstone adopted a new fire management plan which observed stricter guidelines for the management of natural fires.

1995: Placed on List of World Heritage in Danger

From 1995, Yellowstone was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the effects of tourism, infection of wildlife, and issues with invasive species.

1995: Wolf Reintroduction

In 1995–96, northwestern wolves imported from Canada were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park.

1996: Winter Bison Slaughter

During the winter of 1996–1997, a large number of bison that had exited Yellowstone National Park led to 1,079 bison being shot or sent to slaughter.

1996: Previous Lamar River Record

In 1996, the Lamar River reached a height of 12.15 feet (3.70 m).

1997: Winter Bison Slaughter

During the winter of 1996–1997, a large number of bison that had exited Yellowstone National Park led to 1,079 bison being shot or sent to slaughter.

1998: Lynx Sighting

Lynx have not been seen in Yellowstone since 1998.

1999: Bald Eagle Nesting Pairs

In 1999, twenty-six pairs of nesting bald eagles were documented in Yellowstone National Park.

May 2001: Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Created

In May 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey, Yellowstone National Park, and the University of Utah created the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO) to monitor the geological processes of the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field.

2001: Lynx DNA Confirmation

In 2001, DNA taken from hair samples obtained in Yellowstone confirmed that lynx were at least transient to the park.

2001: Catch and Release Regulations

Since 2001, all native sport fish species caught in Yellowstone waterways are subject to catch and release regulations.

2002: Record High Temperature

In 2002, Yellowstone experienced a record high temperature of 99 °F (37 °C).

2003: Bison Population Increase

By 2003, the Yellowstone Park bison herd had increased to 4,000 individuals.

2003: Removed from List of World Heritage in Danger

In 2003, Yellowstone was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

2003: Changes at Norris Geyser Basin

In 2003, changes at the Norris Geyser Basin resulted in the temporary closure of some trails due to new fumaroles, enhanced geyser activity, and increasing water temperatures.

2003: Lynx Tracks Spotted

In 2003, the tracks of one female lynx and her cub were spotted and followed for over 2 miles in Yellowstone National Park.

March 10, 2004: Bison Deaths in Norris Geyser Basin

On March 10, 2004, a biologist discovered 5 dead bison that had inhaled toxic geothermal gases in the Norris Geyser Basin due to a seasonal atmospheric inversion.

April 2004: Upsurge in Earthquake Activity

In April 2004, there was an upsurge in earthquake activity in Yellowstone National Park.

2004: Wolf Population

A survey conducted in 2004 reported that there were 13 wolf packs, totaling 118 individuals in Yellowstone.

2005: Wolf Survey

A survey conducted in 2005 reported that there were 13 wolf packs, totaling 118 individuals in Yellowstone and 326 in the entire ecosystem.

2005: Discovery of Molecular Hydrogen Sustenance

In 2005, researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder discovered that some hyperthermophilic species in Yellowstone's hot waters gain sustenance from molecular hydrogen.

2005: Peak Bison Population

In 2005, the Yellowstone Park bison herd reached a peak of 4,900 animals.

2006: Visitor center at Canyon Village opens

In 2006, the visitor center at Canyon Village in Yellowstone opened, incorporating a more traditional design.

April 30, 2007: Earthquake Swarm in Yellowstone Caldera

Beginning on April 30, 2007, 16 small earthquakes with magnitudes up to 2.7 occurred in the Yellowstone Caldera over several days.

2007: Whitebark Pine Threat

As of 2007, the whitebark pine in Yellowstone is threatened by white pine blister rust, with about seven percent of the species impacted.

2007: Recorded Deaths

From 2007, a total of 74 deaths were recorded within Yellowstone National Park through 2023.

2007: Increased Visitation

From 2007, the average annual visitation increased to 3.5 million over the next 10 years.

2007: Grizzly Delisting

In 2007, the grizzly bear was taken off the endangered species list in Yellowstone National Park.

2007: Bison Population Estimate

In the summer of 2007, the estimated population of bison in Yellowstone National Park was 4,700.

February 27, 2008: Wolf Delisting

On February 27, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population from the endangered species list due to successful recovery.

December 2008: Earthquake Swarm Under Yellowstone Lake

In December 2008, over 250 earthquakes were measured over four days under Yellowstone Lake, with the largest measuring a magnitude of 3.9.

2008: Mammoth School Closes

In 2008, the Mammoth School closed due to fewer employees with dependent children and an interstate agreement for funding.

2008: Bison Population Decline

In 2008, the bison population in Yellowstone dropped to 3,000 after a harsh winter and brucellosis management strategies that led to slaughter.

2009: Grizzly Relisting

In 2009, a federal district judge overturned the delisting ruling, reinstating the grizzly bear on the endangered species list.

January 2010: Earthquake Swarm

In January 2010, more than 250 earthquakes were detected over two days in Yellowstone National Park.

2010: Honored with its own quarter

In 2010, Yellowstone National Park was honored with its own quarter under the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

2011: Geyser study completed

A study completed in 2011 found that at least 1,283 geysers have erupted in Yellowstone.

October 1, 2013: Yellowstone National Park Closed

On October 1, 2013, Yellowstone National Park closed due to the 2013 United States federal government shutdown.

March 30, 2014: Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake

On March 30, 2014, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near the middle of Yellowstone near the Norris Basin. There were no reports of damage.

2014: Fire Management Plan

In 2014, the latest Fire Management Plan was implemented, allowing natural fires to burn if they posed no immediate threat to lives and property.

August 2015: Eighth Bear-Related Death

In August 2015, the eighth recorded bear-related death in the park's history occurred.

2016: Record Recreational Visitors

In 2016, Yellowstone National Park had a record of 4,257,177 recreational visitors.

2016: Discovery of Hadesarchaea

In 2016, researchers from Uppsala University reported the discovery of a class of thermophiles, Hadesarchaea, in Yellowstone's Culex Basin. These organisms can convert carbon monoxide and water to carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

2017: Grizzly Delisting

In 2017, the grizzly bear was once again removed from the list.

September 2018: Grizzly Protections Restored

In September 2018, a U.S. district judge ruled that the grizzly's protections must be restored in full in Yellowstone.

2021: Suspension of Interpretive Presentations

In 2021, campfire programs, guided walks, and other interpretive presentations were suspended in Yellowstone National Park as a response to COVID-19.

June 2022: Park Closure and Evacuation Due to Flooding

In June 2022, Yellowstone National Park closed entrances and evacuated visitors due to record-level rainfall and flooding that caused road and bridge failures, power outages, and mudslides.