Destination: Yellowstone National Park Magnificent Bisons

Destination: Yellowstone National Park Magnificent Bisons Yellowstone National Park – recorded discussion with Corey Anco Willis McDonald, IV Curator of Natural Science Draper National History Museum Transcript: As America approaches its 250th anniversary… we find ourselves doing something we don’t always make time for— Looking back. Not just at the headlines of history… but at the places that helped shape who we are. Because long before travel was about bucket lists and Instagram photos… it was about something much deeper. It was about discovery. Connection. And a sense of wonder about the land beneath our feet. And if there is one place in America that captures all of that— one place that reminds us who we are at our core— It is Yellowstone. This week on Travel With Annita, as part of our journey toward America’s 250th, we’re exploring the places that define this country…Not just as destinations— but as enduring symbols of who we’ve always been. And Yellowstone National Park…is where that story truly begins. Now, here’s something to think about. There was a time— when the idea of setting aside land… not for profit… not for development… but simply to protect it— Was unheard of. In the mid-1800s, America was expanding fast. Railroads were pushing west. Industry was growing. Land was something to be used. But then came the stories. Explorers returned from the Yellowstone region with accounts that sounded… almost unbelievable. They spoke of towering geysers that erupted like clockwork. Boiling hot springs in colors you couldn’t imagine. Vast valleys filled with roaming wildlife. Many people didn’t believe them. Until they saw the photographs. Photographer William Henry Jackson and artist Thomas Moran brought Yellowstone to life in a way words never could. Their images made it real. And those images made their way to Washington. In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant did something extraordinary. He signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, making Yellowstone the first national park in the United States And the first in the world. Think about that. At a time when the country was still rebuilding after the Civil War… America made a decision not just about land. But about legacy. This land would be preserved. Protected. Left untouched for future generations. Not owned by individuals… but shared by everyone. And that decision? It changed everything. Because Yellowstone wasn’t just about scenery. It was about a new way of thinking. That nature had value beyond resources. That wilderness had meaning beyond expansion. That beauty… was worth protecting. And then there’s the wildlife. And, here’s where the story really comes alive for me…. I love visiting wildlife in their natural habitat.  Yellowstone is one of the last places in America where ecosystems still function…much like they did centuries ago. Bison roam freely, a living link to the past. Wolves, once removed from the park, have been reintroduced— restoring balance to the land. Elk, bears, eagles ….All part of a delicate system that depends on protection. Because when we protect wildlife…we’re not just saving animals. We’re preserving the story of the land itself. And that’s something we don’t always think about as travelers. When we visit places like Yellowstone… we’re not just seeing something beautiful— We’re stepping into something preserved. Something protected on purpose. And here’s where it connects to something you may have right in your pocket. As part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program— Yellowstone was selected to be featured on a U.S. quarter. The Yellowstone National Park Quarter, released in 2010, captures two of the park’s most powerful symbols in a single design. In the background – Old Faithful… rising into the sky. And in the foreground……an American bison. Strong. Grounded. Enduring. Together, they tell a deeper story….. one of geothermal wonder and iconic wildlife… existing side by side in one image. And that’s what Yellowstone represents. A place where the earth is still shaping itself… and where life continues to move across it, just as it has for generations. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary… Yellowstone reminds us of something important. That progress and preservation can exist together. That growth doesn’t have to come at the cost of everything. And that sometimes… the most forward-thinking thing a nation can do— Is protect what matters most. Yellowstone isn’t just America’s first national park. It’s a promise. A promise that some places… some stories…and some pieces of history…..Are meant to endure. Coming up next… we’ll continue our journey through America’s story— exploring how yellowstone is home to two of America’s most fascinating, interesting an intriguing animals – the bison and grey wolf.  Yes there are other animals which define yellowstone, but, I’ve pull out these two – they’re my favorites  And they are wildlife that helped shape the very idea of conservation in America. And later in the show… we’re going to step deeper into that story. Conversation with Cody Anco – Willis McDonald IV Curator of Natural Science at the Draper Natural History Museum Now it’s time to plan your trip to Yellowstone with a stay in Cody Wyoming. Here’s your guide to planning and preparing for a stay in Cody Tourism website for Cody codyyellowstone.org To hear my full interview with Corey and much, much more about bison and wolves, visit my website travel with annita dot com to hear my podcast – quarter. Miles travel and U.S. Mint’s Yellowstone quarter . More info. .  Photos courtesy of Julia Cook  – Wildlife photographer Photographs courtesy of Corey Anco