Carol

[|Act Establishing Yellowstone National Park (1872)] Once exploration efforts brought the beauty of the western U.S. to the attention of people everywhere, this "fearsome" space of land became thought of more as a "wonderland". Tourists rushed to see the unspoiled beauty of this area and, in the process, threatened it. Showing great foresight, our government saw a need to protect unique lands for the enjoyment of people in the future. On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park became the first of many areas designed to protect "a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people".