June 14, 1915, Monday
Left for Mammoth Hot Springs 12 o'clock (5 miles). Arrived there and stayed two hours. Saw Soldier's Fort and hospital and chapel, homes of soldier's officers, Terraces, Hot Springs, Devil's Thumb, Liberty Cap, started for Swan Lake. On way saw Devil's Slide, Eagle (Nest) Rock, Hoodoos (Basin), "Golden Gate", and Swan Lake. Stayed there all night.
* * * * *
(Click on information in red to see modern photos and some information.)
As to the elk fence, elk retain thier antlers throughout the winter and shed them with the onset of spring. The local rodent population makes short work of this high quality source of calcium. Size of the horns does not indicate the age of the male, but does help indicate the health of the animal. The antlers are renewed each year. I got my information from Mountain Nature. I read somewhere that people could literally "stumble" upon valleys of elk horns. I wonder if that is still true of today?
The entryway into Yellowstone is well captured in the above unique angle - I believe that is an ox or a cow in the foreground. It is funny to see it just wandering around. I like the stone foundation of the building on the left; I wonder if it is still there?
I am not sure of the age of the postcard. I have a vintage postcards that her sister, Bertha, sent to her when she visited the park in the 1920's. (I will share these here someday, too.) The back of the "Gardiner Gateway" postcard reads... Gardiner Gateway to Yellowstone Park. At Gardiner Gateway, the original entrance to Yellowstone, begins the incomparable "In Gardiner - Out Cody" tour of the Park. The Northern Pacific Railway serves all principal gateways to Yellowstone, permitting the traveler to go in one entrance and leave by another - at no extra cost. (the bottom left corner has a circle with Northern Pacific written inside)
I will be adding photos the next couple of weeks that depict the sites she mentioned above. The b&w photos I have are small and in pretty good shape. But I have highlighted each with a link that shows what each looks like today.
I have linked up with "Sepia Saturdays" - a wonderful site where people share vintage and nostalgic photos of the past. It is really fun, so check it out.
On my sidebar is a complete compilation of what I have journaled to date. I hope you come back next Thursday!
21 comments:
How wonderful that you have the journal and the images. This is a great series Margaret.
Wow ,that fence is amazing!!You are so lucky to have all this information and the photos about your family's history...wonderful
A lot of elk must have come to grief to make that fence. The Yellowstone gateway shot is imposing. Thanks for including the link to the Yellowstone gallery.
I often wonder what it would have been like to visit some of the national parks back in the early days when it was a little wilder. your pictures and writing give me a sense of how different it was.
Yellowstone and Montana are on my "list," so thanks for sharing these. The elk fence seems a little gruesome, though.
I have never been to Yellowstone, but I do have some old doublewide postcards that give an idea of what it was like in the early 20th century.
Very interesting post. I was charmed by the elk fence too. Wasn't sure what it was glad you told us. I have never been out west, just to Texas. I will probably not get there at this age now.
QMM
It must be so wonderful to have your grandmother's journal. Wonderful photos and information to go with her entry.
Discovering old journals (especially your family) is so wonderful...that house is just beautiful and what a great fence...although ouch! if you dared try to climb it! Nice addition to Sepia saturday! Thanks!
I could really fancy and elk fence! LOL
The photos of Yellowstone - both the old ones and the modern ones - are quite fascinating. Over here in Europe we know the name, of course, but tend not to appreciate the beauty of the place. Thanks for sharing your grandmothers' journal.
I can't get over that fence!
Wonder how long it took them to collect enough antlers to make a fence? Of course, elk herds were probably huge 100 years ago...
Wonderful photos and postcard.
Wow that elk fence!! Amazing. I'm so glad you told us that no elks were killed for this fence. Thank goodness.
Nancy
Ladies of the grove
You truly have a treasure here Margaret, and thank you so much for sharing it here!
What a fantastic house - the first thing that caught my eye was the fence and I couldn't figure out what kind of hedge it was! What a treasure and thanks for the links - I'm off to explore Yellowstone :-) Jo
That is so lovely to have the journal. A very good post, so glad I stopped by!
A really incredible trip, I hope to get there myself someday. That elk horn fence is absolutely incredible. I'd forgotten that elk shed their horns, glad you reminded us because that would be an incredibly gruesome trophy otherwise.
What an amazingly bizarre fence. Fascinating.
Love that gate into Yellowstone. As I recall it's still standing, isn't it?
Great post. I'm please you included links to the places your grandmother visited. I can't believe that fence though...
This is such an awesome site - Sepia Saturdays that is. I find my self going to all of your sites and staying for 15 minutes or longer!!! I'm never going to get to you all if I keep this up. Such fascinating details and information. I go back, post after post and want to learn and see all I can. Just wanted you all to know that and THANK YOU for all the kind and fun comments you have left here!
Post a Comment