Five Old Men of Yellowstone
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Five Old Men of Yellowstone

Five Old Men of Yellowstone

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PRESSISBN: 9781607812579

The Rise of Interpretation in the First National Park

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By Stephen Biddulph
Imprint: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PRESS
Release Date:
Format: HARDBACK
Dimensions: 229 x 152 mm
Weight: 150 g
Pages: 384

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Description

Yellowstone has undergone a number of transitions in the 140 years since its national park designation in 1872. The period from the late 1930s to the early 1970s marked one of the most significant as the Park Service shifted focus from mere public recreation to interpretation and education. The vast wilderness and numerous awe-inspiring natural spectacles of the park became less objects of passive enjoyment and more subjects to be engaged, interpreted, and understood by visitors. The park was transformed from a playground into a classroom where active learning processes could take place. Charged with instituting these interpretive interactions were five remarkable ranger naturalists who served as both protectors and educators. Stephen Biddulph tells the story of the five men, his own father amongst them, tasked with inspiring a generation of visitors to the park. Biddulph's masterfully woven narrative-part biography, part historical narrative-offers both fascinating historical detail about Yellowstone and charming colloquial story telling. The interpretive initiatives of the rangers-nature walks, campfire programs, game stalks, and auto caravans-are enlivened by the colorful personalities of the five men who conducted them. A narrative shared with humor and sentiment makes for an accessible book that will be enjoyed by park history buffs and curious visitors alike. Historians will find the work provides a missing link in the park's extensive literature.

Stephen G. Biddulph, son of one of the "Five Old Men," spent his first eighteen summers in Yellowstone Park and has been a life-long student of Yellowstone. A retired Marine Corps officer, a Vietnam veteran, and a mental health therapist and drug addiction counselor, Biddulph is married with six children and nineteen grandchildren.

List of Figures List of Maps Acknowledgments Introduction Part One/Hello Yellowstone! 1. The Wisdom of Nature 2. Foundations of Interpretation 3. Five Old Men of Yellowstone 4. Early Ranger Life in Yellowstone 5. Family Life in Yellowstone Part Two/Protecting Yellowstone 6. Black Alice and Prohibition 7. Patrolling Yellowstone's Highways 8. Protecting Yellowstone's Bears 9. Fighting Yellowstone's Fires 10. Old Faithful's Best Friend Part Three/Interpreting Yellowstone 11. The True Observer 12. Into the Woods 13. The First Naturalist at Fishing Bridge 14. Trailside Museums 15. Walks, Talks, and Stalks Part Four/Discovering Yellowstone 16. Discovery 17. Fact or Fancy 18. In Search of Ghosts 19. The Science of Geysers 20. Earthquake Part Five/Good-bye Yellowstone! 21. Mission 66 22. Ambassadors of Yellowstone 23. End of an Era Notes Bibliography Index

"This work adds considerably to the literature on Yellowstone and the National Park Service. Its examination of the early days and activities of the first rangers is unique."--Tamsen Emerson Hert, author of the article "Luxury in the Wilderness: Yellowstone's Grand Canyon Hotel"

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