Myth and History in the Creation of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, a global icon of conservation and natural beauty, was born at the most improbable of times: the American Gilded Age, when altruism seemed extinct and society’s vision seemed focused solely on greed and growth. Perhaps that is why the park’s “creation myth” recounted how a few saintlike pioneer conservationists labored to set aside this unique wilderness against all odds, when in fact, the establishment of Yellowstone was the result of complex social, scientific, economic, and aesthetic forces. Paul Schullery and Lee Whittlesey, both longtime students of Yellowstone’s complex history, present the first full account of how the fairy-tale origins of the park found universal public acceptance, and of the long process by which the myth was reconsidered and replaced with a more realistic and ultimately more satisfying story. Does A Beloved Institution Need Its Own Myths To Survive? Can Conservationists Avoid Turning Their Heroes Into Legends? Should They Try? Yellowstone National Park, A Global Icon Of Conservation And National Beauty, Was Born At The Most Improbable Of Times: The American Gilded Age, When Altruism Seemed Extinct And Society's Vision Seemed Focused On Only Greed And Growth. Perhaps That Is Why The Park's Creation Myth Portrayed A Few Saintlike Pioneer Conservationists Laboring To Set Aside This Unique Wilderness Against All Odds. In Fact, The Establishment Of Yellowstone Was The Result Of Complex Social, Scientific, Economic, And Aesthetic Forces. Its Creators Were Not Saints But Mortal Humans With The Full Range Of Ideals And Impulses Known To The Species. Authors Paul Schullery And Lee Whittlesey, Both Longtime Students Of Yellowstone's Complex History, Present The First Full Account Of How The Fairy Tale Origins Of The Park Found Universal Public Acceptance, And The Long, Painful Process By Which The Myth Was Reconsidered And Replaced With A More Realistic And Ultimately More Satisfying Story.--book Jacket. 1. In Camp That Night -- 2. A Rather Unusual Discussion -- 3. On The Documentary Trail From Madison Junction -- 4. Coming To Terms With Nathaniel Langford -- 5. Altruists And Realists -- 6. Spreading The Word -- 7. The Debate -- 8. It Came Out All Right! -- 9. Leaving It All Behind -- 10. Myth And Responsibility -- Conclusion: Campfire Lessons -- App. Known And Reported Accounts Of The Washburn Expedition. Paul Schullery And Lee Whittlesey. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.