Happy birthday Yellowstone National Park!

Now blow out 150 candles.

It was President Ulysses S. Grant who signed America's first national park in law. This magnificent land was set aside to preserve and protect the scenery, cultural heritage.

Jeromey Balderrama via Unsplash
Jeromey Balderrama via Unsplash
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But along with that, the people of that time saw so much more. There was wildlife as well as geologic and ecological systems that needed to be preserved for future generations.

One mega volcano that terrifies us yet causes us to want to explore it at the same time.

That underground magma chamber produces 10,000 hydrothermal sites and half the world's active geysers.

 

The park also contains cultural and historical resources with 25 sites on the National Register of Historic Places.

When Yellowstone was first declared a park it only took in 1000 or so visitors a year. But today it sees a few million visitors a year.

At one point, nearly all predators in the park along with other forms of wildlife were almost wiped out. Today the land is abundant with life again.

There will be anniversary celebrations all year at the park.

You can browse their list of anniversary efforts below, follow them on social media and use #Yellowstone150.

The University of Wyoming will take part in a symposium marking Yellowstone National Park’s 150th anniversary.

The two-day event is open to the public both in-person and online and will feature prominent figures from the National Park Service and elsewhere within the Department of the Interior.

Numerous Native American Tribes will be on had to take part in the celebrations.

 

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