Primary Source Spotlight: Yellowstone National Park

Primary Source Spotlight: Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone became the United States’ first national park on March 1, 1872. Act Establishing Yellowstone National Park: Primary Documents in American History Report upon the Yellowstone National Park to the Secretary of the Interior 1879 Creating Yellowstone National Park legislation primary source set Yellowstone National Park images Yellowstone National Park maps Yellowstone Park Guide: A…

Primary Source Spotlight: Buffalo Soldiers

Primary Source Spotlight: Buffalo Soldiers

On June 28, 1866, the U.S. Congress passed An Act to Increase and Fix the Military Peace Establishment of the United States, which established four segregated African American infantry regiments and two cavalry regiments: the Ninth Cavalry, the Tenth Cavalry, the Thirty-eighth Infantry, the Thirty-ninth Infantry, the Fortieth Infantry, and the Forty-first Infantry. According to…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Grand Canyon Tourist Map

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Grand Canyon Tourist Map

List the different data you find on this map (view larger image). Conduct research to compare the data from this map from 1977 with current information and statistics. What similarities and differences did you find? Investigate reasons for the change(s) in data; describe your findings. What other observations, reflections or questions does this source inspire? Let…

Today in History: Thomas Moran

Today in History: Thomas Moran

Today in History–February 12–the Library of Congress features painter Thomas Moran, born on this date in 1837. In 1871 Moran joined a scientific exploration of lands along the Yellowstone River headed by Ferdinand V. Hayden. Moran’s paintings, together with photographer William Henry Jackson’s photographs, helped spur public interest in the area and convince Congress to set aside the Yellowstone area as a…

Today in History: National Park Service

Today in History: National Park Service

Today in History–April 5–the Library of Congress features the National Park Service (NPS), which was established in 1916 thanks to testimonies in support submitted to Congress on April 5 and 6. The NPS started by supervising 40 national parks and monuments and now supervises nearly 500. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access…