Yellowstone National Park (continued)

Today was a shortened day spent at Fort Yellowstone which is on the northern side of this magnificent park.

As many of you probably know (I did not), the park was established under the leadership of President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. However, for several years, the park was under serious threat from poachers, souvenir hunters, land developers, etc. and the civilian superintendent turned to the U.S Army for help in 1886. The Army controlled the park until 1918 when the park was turned back over to the newly created National Park Service.

In 1910, at the height of the Army's presence in Yellowstone, there were 324 soldiers posted there -- plus some families and civilian employees.

Many of the buildings present during the "Army years" are still "alive and well" -- serving as residences for the Park Ranger employees, administrative buildings, etc. The last building constructed was the Chapel (picture included) which is still used today.

During our travels today we saw bison (see picture) which ruled the road ways.

Final observations relate to the skies of Montana. I can see why Montana is called the Big Sky country.