Artists have played important roles in interpreting the Yellowstone region. Early written and oral reports of the marvelous Yellowstone features were often disbelieved.

In 1870, magazine publishers rejected a manuscript because the words of expedition members were not proof enough that such a wonderland existed. Fortunately, a year later, the visual images created by photographer William Henry Jackson and painter Thomas Moran produced believable documentation that brought the Yellowstone region to the attention of a wide public and helped convince the United States Congress to establish the first national park.

Yellowstone and other national parks continue to inspire painters, photographers, and other artists. Today, like yesterday, artists record and document natural resources. In turn, their works of art contribute to the interpretation of nature and promote preservation, and thus enhance our understanding and appreciation of the national parks.

Join us as we visualize Yellowstone with the eyes of an artist. Simply open your mind, post your questions on the message board, and see for yourselves how art
influenced the creation of Yellowstone National Park.