In the 1950’s I grew up on a ranch just north of Colorado Springs, where the Air Force Academy is now located. Adjacent to our ranch was another large ranch owned by an elderly woman and her family. Our family was visiting them one day when the topic of conversation was national parks. The old lady told us about when she was a child her family visited Yellowstone National Park in the horse and wagon days. Her favorite memory was how they did their laundry. Rather than washing them in an ice cold stream, they decided to use one of the many hot spring pools. They found one that was perfect. It would periodically nearly empty and then fill back up several minutes later. They tossed their dirty laundry into the pool and waited while their clothes were pulled down and out of sight. When the pool started to bubble back up, they retrieved their wonderfully clean clothes using long sticks!
Sincerely,
Yellowstone National Park
America's first national park is named after the river that runs through it. Within the park's massive boundaries, visitors can find mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and some of the most concentrated geothermal activity in the world. The park has 60% of the world’s geysers, as well as hot springs and mud pots. It is also home to diverse wildlife with the largest concentration of mammals in the Lower 48 states, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk.
State(s): Idaho Montana, Wyoming,
Established: 1872
“They give the best examples of the beauty and wonder of our country.”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
Greetings from Yellowstone National Park
I visited in the summer of 2024, before my junior year of college began. We flew all the way from Georgia to Montana just to see it, and it was more stunning than I could have ever imagined. I recently created an ad campaign advocating for the protection of this…
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now