The Yellowstone Park as a 
Game Reservation 
When the Yellowstone Park was set aside 
by Act of Congress as a national reservation, 
very little was known of the region beyond 
such facts as could be gathered during one 
short season of exploration, mainly devoted 
to an examination of the marvelous hot 
springs and geysers, which have since made 
the place so famous throughout the world. 
During his first visit to the region in 1871, 
Dr. F. V. Hayden realized the exceptional 
nature of the hydrothermal manifestations 
found here and the grand scale upon which 
the phenomena were displayed. Although it 
was then far removed from all beaten tracks, 
he shrewdly foresaw the necessity of govern- 
ment protection, if these scientific curiosities 
were to be preserved intact in their natural 
condition. He saw that vandals would soon 
despoil the region of the delicate incrusta- 
tions and sediments slowly deposited through 
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