To Dr. Elliott Coues, of Washington, D. C., who has contributed, besides much general assistance, the essential facts relating to the name "Yellowstone." To Captain George S. Anderson, 6th U. S. Cavalry, Superintendent of the Park, for the use of his extensive collection of Park literature. To Prof. Arnold Hague, and others, of the U. S. Geological Survey, for many important favors. To Prof. J. D. Butler, of Madison, Wis., for biographical data relating to James Bridger. To Dr. R. Ellsworth Call, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for valuable assistance pertaining to the entire work. To the Hon. D. M. Browning, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for important data relating to the Indian tribes in the vicinity of the Yellowstone Park. To the officers of the War and Interior Departments, the U. S. Fish Commission, the U. S. Bureau of Ethnology, and of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, for public documents and other information of great value. To R. T. Durrett, LL.D., of Louisville, Ky.; Mr. J. G. Morrison, of the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.; Mr. J. D. Losecamp, of Billings, Mont.; Mr. George Bird Grinnell, of _Forest and Stream_, New York City; Major James F. Gregory, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.; Lieutenant Wm. H. Bean, Second Cavalry, U. S. A.; Hon. David E. Folsom, White Sulphur Springs, Mont.; Washington Mathews, Major and Surgeon, U. S. A.; Dr. A. C. Peale, of Philadelphia, Pa.; William Hallett Phillips, of Washington, D. C.; Dr. Lyman B. Sperry, of Bellevue, O.; Mrs. Matilda Cope Stevenson, of Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Sirena J. Washburn, of Greencastle, Ind.; Miss Isabel Jelke, of Cincinnati, O.; Mr. O. B. Wheeler, of St. Louis, Mo.; Mr. O. D. Wheeler, of St. Paul, Minn.; Mr. J. H. Baronett, of Livingston, Mont.; Mr. W. T. Hamilton, of Columbus, Mont.; Mr. Richard Leigh, of Wilford, Idaho; Mr. Edwin L. Berthoud, of Golden, Colo.; and Miss Laura S. Brown, of Columbus, O. H. M. C. Columbus, Ohio, _September 19, 1895_. CONTENTS. PART I.--HISTORICAL. Chapter I.--"Yellowstone" 1 Chapter II.--Indian Occupancy of the Upper Yellowstone 8 Chapter III.--John Colter 20 Chapter IV.--The Trader and Trapper 32 Chapter V.--Early knowledge of the Yellowstone 40 Chapter VI.--James Bridger 51 Chapter VII.--Raynolds Expedition 58 Chapter VIII.--Gold in Montana 65 Chapter IX.--Discovery 72 Chapter X.--The National Park Idea--Its Origin and Realization 87 Chapter XI.--Why So Long Unknown 98 Chapter XII.--Later Explorations 103