Yellowstone National Park: Travel Through Time

November 01, 2024 Posted by: Morrigan Kelley, Museum Technician

The park’s museum program recently put together a virtual exhibit, “Yellowstone National Park: Travel Through Time,” which uses collection objects to highlight different methods of travel throughout the region. The exhibit begins with Native American groups and early European American trappers and surveyors and continues to present-day visitors. It examines how the area has been managed over time, how visitors tour the park on land, water, and snow, and how the National Park Service uses technology to steward the land and protect its visitors.


YELL50375: "Annie," First boat launched upon Yellowstone Lake
Photo Credit: William Henry Jackson, 1871

This project allowed me, and other museum staff, interns, and volunteers, to live at the gateway to the world’s first national park. It was a collaborative effort to find objects and write associated text that illustrates the history of transportation in the region. Through this virtual exhibit we can share over 100 exciting collection objects with people near and far.


YELL9739: Cavalry drilling on Mammoth Parade Ground
Photo Credit: George Petrach, 1909

This exhibit was developed by Yellowstone National Park staff and made possible by the generous support of the Jane Lerner Fund of Yellowstone Forever, Yellowstone National Park’s official non-profit partner. The virtual exhibit was developed in collaboration with the NPS Museum Management Program.


Yell36861: First Chief Ranger James McBride with his motorcycle, 1925

Explore the online exhibit here: Yellowstone National Park: Travel through Time Exhibit (U.S. National Park Service)

history, transportation, museum, roads, collections