The landscape of the greater Yellowstone region has evolved gradually over millennia, punctuated by rare cataclysmic events such as volcanic eruptions, major earthquakes, and glacial outburst floods.
Geologist Ferdinand Hayden directed the first scientific exploration of Yellowstone in 1871, leading directly to the founding of the world’s first national park in the following year. Hayden’s noteworthy achievements in science and conservation, however, are clouded by his views of Indigenous people.
The Yellowstone region was known for millennia by Indigenous people, who would frequent the area in search of game and other resources they had been in the area for at least 11,000 years! Obsidian from the region was an especially prized commodity, and artifacts made from obsidian taken from Yellowstone’s numerous lava flows have been found as far east as the Ohio River Valley.