Introduction

Located mainly in Wyoming but also spanning parts of Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone National Park is among the world’s best-known geological wonders. Famous for its rainbow-colored hot springs and geysers that spew boiling water into the air, Yellowstone also contains lakes, mountains, streams, canyons, and wildlife within a landscape rich in both scenic beauty and environmental significance. Originally home to Crow Indians (a nomadic group who hunted in the region) and Shoshone Indians (descendants of the original peoples of the Rocky Mountain region), during the past 150 years government expeditions, military troops, and tourists from around the world have passed through Yellowstone. Today, approximately three million people visit the park annually.

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“The . . . power of pigments spread on the artist’s canvas become feeble, narrow, and almost impotent in the presence of the majestic and outlandish marvels of Yellowstone National Park.”

- John H. Raftery,
“Historic and Descriptive Sketch of Yellowstone National Park,”
Annals of Wyoming, 15 (April 1943), 101-132

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Seemingly a place apart from civilization, Yellowstone’s exotic appeal also has lured generations of artists. Through their work, Drawn to Yellowstone: Artists in America’s First National Park invites you to explore the park’s visual history, changing identity, and impact as a cultural phenomenon.