Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park in 1872. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act on March 1 of that year.
The park was created to preserve Yellowstone’s geothermal features, wildlife, scenery, and other natural wonders for public enjoyment. Its famous landscapes include geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, forests, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Most of the park lies in Wyoming, with smaller portions extending into Montana and Idaho.
A government-sponsored expedition led by Ferdinand V. Hayden in 1871 helped persuade Congress to protect the region. Photographs by William Henry Jackson and paintings by Thomas Moran publicized Yellowstone’s dramatic scenery and strengthened support for federal preservation.
Yellowstone’s creation established a model later used for national parks in the United States and other countries. The National Park Service was not created until 1916, so Yellowstone was initially administered by the Department of the Interior and later supervised by the U.S. Army.