1896 Map of Canyon

About this map

Yanceys and a lone Hotel on the northern shore of Yellowstone Lake mark the rare human imprints in this late nineteenth-century wilderness. Surveyed by Frank Tweedy under the direction of Henry Gannett, this map documents the heart of Yellowstone National Park when access was still defined by early crossings like the Baronett Bridge. The terrain transitions from the geothermal activity at Calcite Springs and The Mudkettles to the steep relief of Specimen Ridge and the Fossil Forest. The hydrology of the era is preserved in the winding course of the Lamar River and the high Buffalo Plateau, offering a detailed record of the park’s natural landmarks before the modernization of park infrastructure. Researchers can trace the early trails leading toward Jones Pass and the isolated peaks of the Absaroka Range.