HISTORY 3 



second exploring expedition to enter the region, the Wash- 

 bum-Doane expedition, so-called from its being led by Genei'al 

 Henry D. Washburn, Surveyor-General of Montana, and 

 Lieutenant G. C. Doane of the United States Army, who com- 

 manded a military escort detailed by the War Department. 

 This expedition spent about a month in the region, but ex- 

 plored it somewhat more thoroughly than the Folsom party 

 had done. 



The published reports of these two expeditions aroused in- 

 tense interest throughout the entire country, and had much 

 to do with the sending out of a government expedition in 

 187 1 under the joint auspices of the Geological Survey and 

 the Engineer Corps of the Army, well equipped for the mak- 

 ing of precise scientific observations. This expedition made 

 a large collection of accurate data concerning the entire region 

 and took a great many photographs. From the standpoint 

 of exact information obtained it was the most important of 

 the three expeditions. 



For a less ponderable but far more momentous reason, 

 when viewed in the light of its effect upon subsequent events, 

 the Washbum-Doane expedition, nevertheless, must be given 

 first place among these pioneer explorations of the Yellowstone 

 region. It was on this expedition that expression was first 

 given to the thought which has been responsible for the crea- 

 tion and development of the Country's system of national 

 parks. At a camp fire of this expedition, on September 19, 

 1870, the members were discussing the wonders they had seen 

 and the certainity of the remarkable area becoming a mecca 

 for tourists. This led to the suggestion by several that it 

 would be a "profitable speculation" to take up land surround- 

 ing the principal phenomena and exploit them as commercial 

 enterprises. Objection to this point of view was expressed 

 by Cornelius Hedges, a member of the party, to the effect 

 that the recently discovered wonderland should never be al- 

 lowed to pass into private ownership, but should be set aside 

 for the use and enjoyment of all the people. The other 



