Discovery of Yellowstone: Lewis & Clark (1805) and John Colter (1807)

First Euro-American Encounters

• 1805: Lewis & Clark Expedition passed near Yellowstone (north edge) wintering at Fort Mandan; did not enter plateau.
• 1807–1808: John Colter (expedition member) explored alone — first European-descended person to see geysers, hot springs, "Colter's Hell." Dismissed as tall tales for decades.

Later Exploration

• 1820s–1860s: Mountain men (Jim Bridger, Joe Meek) — more "tall tales"
• 1869: Folsom-Cook Expedition — first organized survey
• 1870: Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition — named Old Faithful, advocated protection
• 1871: Hayden Geological Survey — photos (W.H. Jackson), paintings (T. Moran) convinced Congress
• March 1, 1872: Yellowstone National Park established — world's first

Indigenous History

Native peoples (Shoshone, Bannock, Blackfeet, Crow, etc.) lived, hunted, quarried obsidian, used thermal features for 11,000+ years. "Discovery" is a colonial framing.