Paintings and photographs such as these have encouraged the appreciation of the wonders of Yellowstone. In fact, works of art by painter Thomas Moran and photographer William Henry Jackson helped to convince members of the United States Congress to establish Yellowstone as the first national park in the world.

Moran and Jackson accompanied an official exploring party to the Yellowstone region in 1871. The images they brought back to the east coast were linked to the written scientific report prepared by Ferdinand V. Hayden and helped to express the wonders in the area.The visual records that Moran and Jackson provided were convincing and realistic, and with the advancement of technology, their images were seen and enjoyed by many people across the United States. This field trip will investigate how artists have contributed to the scientific study of Yellowstone and its continuing study and appreciation.

Illustrations: (Top) Thomas Moran. Liberty Cap and Clematis Gulch. 1871. pencil, watercolor and opaque watercolor, Yellowstone National Park. Gift of George D. Pratt, Mrs. Henry Strong, Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Col. Herbert J. Slocum.

(Bottom) William Henry Jackson, "Cap of Liberty, Mammoth Hot Springs," plate 16 in Photographs of Yellowstone National Park and Views in Montana and Wyoming Territories, 1873. McCracken Research Library, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Weiss.