After great effort was invested into surveying, exploring, and publicizing Yellowstone, it was successfully established as a national park on March 1st, 1872. The park predated the establishment of the National Park Service (NPS) in 1916. There was no funding to ensure its upkeep until 1878, when superintendent Philetus Norris was given a small budget for running and protecting the park. He used $1,000 of this budget to hire a year-round “gamekeeper.” One man, Harry S. Yount, was assigned the daunting task of patrolling the Northeast corner of the park’s 3,472 square miles on horseback to protect wildlife.
After a period of ineffective management and inadequate funding, the Secretary of the Interior called on the War Department to take over management of the park. In August 1886, Company M, a division of the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Regiment, marched into Wyoming. Approximately 90 men and their horses set up camp at the base of Mammoth Hot Springs, which they called Fort Sheridan until 1891, when it was renamed Fort Yellowstone. The Cavalry managed the park until 1918. Their main duties included fighting fires, catching poachers, and protecting the thermal features. The soldiers also conducted cavalry drills at the center of present-day Mammoth. Stables and cavalry barracks were built by 1900.
After a period of ineffective management and inadequate funding, the Secretary of the Interior called on the War Department to take over management of the park. In August 1886, Company M, a division of the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Regiment, marched into Wyoming. Approximately 90 men and their horses set up camp at the base of Mammoth Hot Springs, which they called Fort Sheridan until 1891, when it was renamed Fort Yellowstone. The Cavalry managed the park until 1918. Their main duties included fighting fires, catching poachers, and protecting the thermal features. The soldiers also conducted cavalry drills at the center of present-day Mammoth. Stables and cavalry barracks were built by 1900.
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Harry YountYellowstone National Park, YELL 7150
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Springfield 1884 Repeater RifleYellowstone National Park, YELL 7282
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U.S. Army Officer Dress CapYellowstone National Park, YELL 23096
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U.S. Cavalry Uniform JacketYellowstone National Park, YELL 21966
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Riding BreechesYellowstone National Park, YELL 21963
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SpursYellowstone National Park, YELL 89434
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Sgt McCartnet jumping fence on horsebackYellowstone National Park, YELL 9743
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers StablesYellowstone National Park, YELL 22708
Last updated: June 10, 2024