Why National Monuments are BANNED in Wyoming

Ah, yes. The Great Grand Tetons Controversy (nobody actually calls it that, I just made it up but it works so we're going with it). There was indeed a time in Grand Teton National Park's history that was turbulent and stormy, hidden away today behind a veneer of majestic peaks and braided rivers. During the formative years of Grand Teton, just as many people would have preferred the park were never created at all, as who championed its creation. This story can teach us a lot about the politics of park creation, the power of the Antiquities Act, the ongoing debate over land use on America's public lands, and the role of philanthropy in National Parks. It's a doozy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
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Sources and Resources:
www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisi...
content.time.com/time/subscri...
www.wyohistory.org/encycloped...
www.dailykos.com/stories/2011...
ahcwyo.org/2022/02/21/grand-t...
www.nps.gov/grte/learn/manage...
npshistory.com/publications/ri...
journals.ala.org/index.php/dt...
Images and Music:
Storyblocks
University of Wyoming
Ansel Adams
AP
Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum
Wyoming Tails and Trails
Wyoming State Archives
Rockefeller Archive Repository

[@jdubvdub]

I was a park ranger at GTNP many years ago and heard only a vague version of this story during my job orientation. A few times, I did get some comments from locals about government overreach and the park belonged to them, but that was about it. Thank you for a great and informative video!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching, glad I could help!

[@willar7179]

The locals seem to believe the land belongs to them but it doesn’t. It belongs to all of us and the rest of us would like it to be preserved for us and our great great grandchildren. Not for the locals to use up and destroy for their own purposes.

[@CurtJames-kp1qf]

Do a talk on . Who runs the park, not head of parks, but gunpaking law officers who intimidate employees. Visitors. Teton gun officers have ruined the spiritual experiencing of the park by young arigant rangers. I have been in Teton 60+ years since I could walk. Regular rangers are great 👍. Gun parking nazis. Out of control. The worst cops have been hired with no experience but military training. Many have had bad experiences with top officer to New Green Young inexperienced , take over of power needs to go back to head of park.

[@brentnearhood8874]

My sister-in-law, Tricia O'Connor, just retired last year as the Supervisor of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. She's in Saint Ignatius, Montana now.⛰

[@BrownBear406]

@@brentnearhood8874wow is she still working in the forest service?

[@1TakoyakiStore]

The ironic thing about this is that nearly the exact opposite thing is happening to my little unincorporated hometown village in Central Florida. It's one of the last places in the area that has practically no development. In fact the locals want to keep it that way. They would've loved something like the antique act to have swooped in and done something to permanently prevent homebuilders from attempting to develop the land any further.

[@dansands8140]

I understand how you feel, I live in Central Florida as well, but we simply cannot allow every 100 year old area to be declared off-limits forever. We will swiftly find ourselves without anywhere to build and grow, and thousands of protected areas that nobody is willing to maintain.

[@Weathernerd27]

I think the state needs a rule that x% of a county can be zoned for commercial development, x% of a county can be zoned for single family homes, x% of a county can be zoned for multifamily homes, x% of the county must be city park and x% of a county must remain wild/undeveloped. I know this will make it hard to build new homes in the more developed counties and the population will not be able to keep growing in certain areas but that's okay do you really want more congested roads? I don't think allowing home prices to skyrocket is the solution to this lack of housing we can't be pricing workers out of areas, I think there should be a random lottery to determine who gets new homes. I also think employers need to be more willing to let their workers work remotely it would make the cities much less overcrowded/more pleasant and workers would be happier/more productive if they didn't have horrendous commutes.

[@1TakoyakiStore]

@@dansands8140 I mean if I were World Dictator I'd pass a decree that states that any future construction should either replace an existing structure or build up. We are cornered here in the peninsula and we will soon find ourselves without anywhere to go unless we pull a Netherlands and start building dikes on the gulf coast.

[@WolfLykaios]

Yeah, as someone who lived on the edge of unincorporated land in Brevard County, we have the same issue. The place I was born at in the mid-90s is unrecognizable to what it is today, and entire ecosystems have been utterly destroyed with many others on the verge of collapse. It is so bad, that finding boars, foxes or even the occasional bobcat in neighborhoods is not uncommon. Though, instead of using the antiquities act, I would much prefer for the Federal Government, to actually negotiation with the state and the locals instead of just claiming any area they want. That way, the locals have a voice and say in the matter, and it doesn't create such blowback or disdain for the preservation of the area.

[@eyeamstrongest]

@@dansands8140 build up

[@LyriixLKE]

I just visited the park a month ago. I had no idea of its history. But the magnificence is undeniable. I really really loved the production value in this video. Your organization and storytelling is awesome and I feel you've improved since I first started watching you. Especially with the subtle music in the background as you spoke.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

So glad to hear that! I feel myself improving as a storyteller and creator with each video, so glad to know that is paying off! Appreciate it ❤

[@jaymacpherson8167]

The mentioned cross-purposes between federal agencies reminds me of an encounter I had in 1995. I was on a project in Tucumcari, New Mexico. As we walked toward the only open restaurant with breakfast, I noticed a federal truck peppered with hatches on its sides. As the driver climbed out, I asked “what does that truck carry?” he replied that they are transporting muskellunge to the Pacific Northwest to stock the Columbia river. I asked why. He said, for sport fishing. I was incredulous because there are protected salmon on the Columbia river and muskies would be their top predator. He assured me that the muskies were sterilized. That reply reminded me of the less than 100% efficacy of fish sterilization. I asked if fish and wildlife knew about this stocking effort, and he said he did not know.

[@vonbuzz9009]

Allways expect the government to do exactly the wrong thing ,every time ,,,all the time,,, they created the dustbowl in the 30s, FFS. Still doing stupid shit to this country .

[@johnhodge5871]

Life...uh....finds a way. Which isn't at all reassuring.

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

I hope the driver didn't know much and was carrying tiger muskies. They area sterile cross with pike. On the other hand the state of washington as screwed up plenty of times , one of which brought walleye to the Columbia.

[@jaymacpherson8167]

@@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists Yup, I heard about the walleyes. Did you hear about the hatchery at Bonneville Dam that put up nets over the fry channels, right at water level? An Oregon fish and wildlife officer visited and saw dead birds drowned in the channels. The nets had wall anchors that resulted in arcs big enough to allow the birds to dive under the water. They would come up for air, but be beneath a net.

[@HubertofLiege]

Not much different than those same trucks hauling wolves from Montana to release in the cascades.

[@jlt131]

I live in Western Canada, but have been on many roadtrips across the western states & provinces. Grand Teton is in my top three favorite places I've ever been. The natural beauty is just indescribable and unmatched. So glad it's a protected area! I've been there three times now (only once as an adult), but I hope to go back many more times. I'd love to see the valley in the winter, covered in snow.

[@b.a.d.2086]

Your neck of the woods isn't shabby either! Love western Canada!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Totally agreed!

[@jlt131]

@@b.a.d.2086 absolutely! I love a rugged coastline on a good stormy day too 😁

[@Aim_Here_]

As someone who is lucky enough to be in Jackson, I genuinely think winter makes the park even better. I absolutely love hiking out here and the views are unbelievable, but the quiet that comes with the snow, the elk pouring out into the valley, the majesty of snow covered mountains... also, if you're into skiing, JHMR and Grand Targhee are fantastic. Both very different styles of mountains even though they are the same range (east side and west side, respectively)

[@JorgeGonzalez-sx7fk]

what does the rest of your top 3 look like?

[@devoncrump8800]

You should make a video on why there are no national parks in Idaho, its an interesting history! edit: I know there are many national forests, historical sites, reserves, monuments, etc, I live here and have been to a lot of them. Im referring specifically to the attempts to raise them to become one of the few (63 today) National Parks.

[@sujimtangerines]

Well, akshualllly... No I'm not going to be that person. The other NPS properties there are pretty great though. Loved Craters & City of Rocks. Wish we could have spent more time at Hagerman. Took my kid to Minidoka when I realized there was no mention of the WW2 internment camps in any of the curricula... Well, not in what was publicly available. I called the superintendent's office to ask if it was covered in any class. It wasn't unless a teacher added it individuallly. Couldn't have that.

[@devoncrump8800]

@@sujimtangerines oh I agree, there’s plenty of great places managed by the NPS here. Just figured it may be an interesting topic from all the attempts to get a National Park designation. And i havent been to Minidoka yet but would like to go, such a crazy and sad history.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Sounds like an interesting story! Got any resources as a jumping off point for me to learn more?

[@JohnGotts]

Wrong, Yellowstone National Park.

[@KabobHope]

​@@JohnGottsNot enough to matter.

[@charlescarlson1290]

Great story! I visited the park several times as a child in the early 1950’s and later as an adult. We did a 19 mile hike behind the mountains when I was 10. I never really understood why the Tetons were separate from Yellowstone given that it was so close to it, and I’ve never understood😢 why Jackson Hole got its fame. Thank you so much. It’s all much clearer now. I never knew about the politics.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help and thanks for watching!

[@DavidSmith-ew6ih]

We drove through both Yellowstone and Grand Teton just 4 days ago, and I'm very grateful both parks exist. If the effort and sacrifice hadn't been made all those years ago, we wouldn't be enjoying the beautiful scenery that we now have. The mountains would still be there, but there would be million dollar homes in the landscape with the owners enjoying their magnificent views while ruining ours.

[@rondye9398]

There are multimillion dollar homes all over the area. While trucking I hauled logs from the port in Longview Wa. to just outside the park boundary. It was part of a custom multimillion dollar home for the owners dog! Hand scribed log home.

[@jonsonnenschein1253]

I guessed you missed the multitudes of multimillion dollar homes while you drove through there. They are everywhere. Maybe one has to live in these expanses like I do to notice it.

[@silverwolf1967]

Are you a Wyoming citizen? If not you should have no say in what happens in Wyoming. The federal government owns enough land in the state. This state was founded on ranching and farming. The feds taking that land deprives ranchers from using that land. If your livelihood depended on the use of that land you would fight also.

[@gregdeitrick6073]

@@silverwolf1967 This position seems blatantly at odds with the idea of property rights: that you have rights to use the land you own but for this to work it requires that you don't have rights to use land you don't own. Its one thing if the government obtains by nefarious means land legally owned by a person. But locals demanding that they are entitled to land clearly owned by the federal government is just plain theft. The harsh but obvious reality is that if your livelihood depends on the use of federal land, you are leaching off the federal government. There is nothing sacred about raising animals for meat. If you can't figure out how to make it work on your own land then get a different job. On the other hand, if you can't make it work because of the problems with the meat packing industry, I'll support you all I can.

[@DavidSmith-ew6ih]

@@jonsonnenschein1253 Thank you for illustrating my point so well. They're everywhere, except in the park.

[@gtbkts]

Thank you for all the awesome content and great videos!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@patriciasmith7604]

your enthusiasm is infectious, It's a gift you use well in these videos. Thank you

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much, I'm glad to hear that!

[@ulba98]

Hey Cameron, I had been curious about why the corridor between The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone is associated with John D. Rockefeller Jr. and this video cleared that right up. Keep the good stuff coming!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help! There's actually a third "separate" park unit in between Yellowstone and Grand Teton called the John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway (it's still managed by Grand Teton). Just another part of the fascinating history of this area. Thanks for watching!

[@MrDanimal42]

The King's private hunting grounds. This is a beautiful video, I do not believe it to be accurate.

[@MrDanimal42]

There's more to the story, it will never be part of the public record.

[@YewtBoot]

@@MrDanimal42 Are you willing to spill some of the missing content that you know for others to add their stories to either verify or nullify your claims?

[@lauraweiss7875]

I love the Wind River Range as much or more than the Natl Parks. Fewer people, fewer rules, ranchers allowed. It works.

[@Komainu959]

I love this channel, while I don't watch it religiously or binge it when I do it's just so good. Thank you for spot lighting National Parks!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I appreciate you being here and supporting the channel! It truly means a lot, so thank you!

[@Kattak2772]

Just found your channel and I am hooked. Loads of great information I did not have any clue about. Thank you so much !

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Welcome! So glad to have you here!

[@chrisdaigle5410]

I had heard of this struggle over the park land, but not in this detail. We stayed at the Moulton Ranch cabins when they were still renting. The park is truly stunning. Thank goodness it has become a national park, because it would absolutely be GONE if it wasn't. It would all be private property with no chance to see it from the spread of mansions built there. Just look at the town of Jackson Hole. The rich people can't live there, because the SUPER rich people have priced them out of town. The businesses have to bus the workers into town from 90 minutes away. There is no place where they can afford to live.

[@michaelbarrister429]

We stayed at the Moulton Ranch cabins the last summer they rented. We were very sad to see the property purchased and donated to the park. Such a beautiful area and peaceful place to stay.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

Late stage capitalism is a cancer.

[@n.d.m.515]

And yet it was the super rich that, right or wrong, allowed the Teton monument.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

@n.d.m.515 one thing they did right.

[@KarmaKittyFubarZen]

The Grand Teton Park is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It is heart achingly beautiful. I am so glad that all those people persevered. Thank you so much for telling its story.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching!

[@kmaguire7161]

I agree! I stopped there just for a day on a cross country trip. I had never even heard of it before but as I drove across country with a friend we looked at a map and stopped at every National Park we could on our way. It was one of my favorite stops on the trip.

[@rainbowgal8047]

Informative and well-told. Thank you! I subbed and look forward to more stories.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and welcome to the community!

[@viennabrewer6946]

This is probably why the area is separate socially from the rest of the state. Most of the people in Jackson are not part of the original residents. There always tension between them and the rest of the state because of the wealth that flows through it.

[@blueburnsred]

This is a crazy story, thank you for taking the time to research and put it all together in a nice narrative way. I've never heard any of this information before and it is fascinating to learn about.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help, thanks so much for watching!

[@michaelcheli5842]

You did a fantastic job articulating the many facits to this story. And aside from the beauty and grandur of the park, I had no idea of its turbulent backstory. Very interesting; thank you for sharing.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@jaywylde]

Fascinating history and evolution of a National Park. Well told and researched, thank you for providing this good content!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@reidphx]

You did an excellent job in presenting this. You have a future in this biz for sure. I was not aware of this well done history of the Grand Teton National Park. I subscribed to see more.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and welcome to the community!

[@angstony459]

Another great video! keep up the great work!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much, will do!

[@wannabeaway]

Very interesting and fascinating history. Thank you for posting this!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@oldgeezerproductions]

Just before the total eclipse in 2017, I drove up to the Gran Tetons and discovered that the camping spots had all filled up a week or more earlier. The Park Service people were not about to change the rules and let people share camping spots. It didn't matter to them that people needed someplace to camp in anticipation of this once in a lifetime event, no, the rules were that one person per camp site and no tents outside of designated sites. Thus I quickly discovered that the P.S. takes "The Rules" to a absurd extreme and there is no flexibility in their thinking. The rules are the rules and the rules are the rules are the rules and the rules are the rules, Etc, Etc. My backup plan was to go to the beautiful Slide Lake camp run by the Forest Service. The guy who ran the campgrounds there was much more practical and sympathetic and allowed a kind of "tent city" to be established on some open land. I just happened to drive by as a family was leaving and I asked if I could have their spot and they said yes. I then went to the Forest Service rep. and he said "sure, if the first group gave it to you, it was yours." Knowing the Park Service, this never would have happened. There are so many other places where the Park Service has taken complete control in the last few years, I'm getting to really dislike them and all their inflexible, unbreakable, brain-dead RULES. In Utah I avoid the P.S. camps and greatly prefer the State Park camps. By the way, it is amazing how much money the P.S. has pumped into beautiful and elaborate "visitor's centers" when it is the natural scenery I've come to see, not the inside of a palatial "visitor's center."

[@jimmin9802]

People are unaware of the loss of land use when it becomes a national park, swimming holes go away primitive camping is restricted it is no longer used by locals as public lands it is you can use what we say. Some are good and some are not good, ck out little river canyon alabama to see what was lost.

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

The most popular national park in the US is another great example. Nothing good about overdeveloped, overregulated, sewage-stinking Zion

[@blastedmcgraw152]

Very interesting! Excellent video on one of the absolute best National Parks in the USA. Loved the park footage too. Really enhances the story. I need to get back to this park soon!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@GreenForce82]

I'm very glad that KZbin suggested your channel! Excellent video on Jackson Hole and the Tetons!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@davescott5582]

A video on your recommended reading list for topics on our national lands would be great. Thanks!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Oh man, I could talk for days about that lol. Might have to put something together on another channel for misc stuff like that!

[@LeeMize]

Well told, Cameron. I wonder which landmarks in Wyoming might have become national monuments or parks if the Antiquities Act had not been banned.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I've wondered this many times myself. I'm not familiar enough with the state to really say, but I'm super curious regardless. Thanks for watching!

[@HouseJawn]

I live in Wyoming, its a pretty state, but id wager most of the most beautiful nature has been preserved in Yellowstone and Teton Forest

[@mbsnyderc]

@@HouseJawn There is still a lot of other places that are national forest.and if it was never a park it would probably still look the same.

[@higler.]

well, there is Devils Tower National Monument for one.

[@rickittyrickith7028]

@@HouseJawn ;) ;)

[@iangomez7190]

Great video dude! Love the way you explain things ❤️

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much!!

[@johngorentz6409]

That was interesting. I hadn't realized that the park, as now delineated, was brand new when my parents took us on family trips out west in the early 50s. I sympathize with just about all groups whose interests came into conflict, and appreciate the way you told their stories.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@jonsonnenschein1253]

I have lived in Wyoming my entire life and have been in the same area within a two-hour drive east of the park. I've known it has quite the history but never studied it. Listening to the research you have presented makes sense and all ties in with the political climate and money there. It is considered the only blue part of the state. And yes, the locals still have the attitude it belongs to them and not the government. I go there frequently and love the scenery but don't care to drive into Jackson Hole or Teton Village anymore.

[@WolfPackM98c]

I backpacked in the Tetons two months ago and got that vibe when I was planning the trip. The entire Jackson Hole valley (including the park) is governed by the same tourism board so prices are set exorbitant rates wherever you go. They also have a bunch of quirky rules and laws to prevent anyone from staying in the area too long without falling into their systematic tourist economy. Between the park and the surrounding locals, even just trying to drive a car there and spend a few days hiking the backcountry can get expensive.

[@aeroflopp]

Excellent story telling and excellent footage. Glad to see you are a fan of Dune, as well!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you! And yes, big fan - pretty pumped for the new movie later this year!

[@utahguy058]

In 1972, Fossil Butte National Monument was established near Kemmerer, Wyoming. It was established via Congress and not through the antiquities act. Also, the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, which is managed by the National Park Service, was established in 1966 via Congress. It's conceivable that another monument could be established in Wyoming.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Correct. The law only prevents unilateral monument proclamations by the President. Congressional actions are still allowed.

[@wschart]

Also Devil’s Tower National Monument, which happens to be the 1sr NM established (1906).

[@liveadventureexplore]

I was not aware of this. I had no idea about all the opposition. Thank you for sharing! I’ll be sure to share this video with friends and family.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help - thanks for watching!

[@tvviewer4500]

This guy looks like someone who would have a national park diary. Thanks for sharing this is a great idea look forward to you getting a new microphone and using compression. Can tell you love this stuff

[@Pigpen1202]

This was a very cool episode. Thank you 😊

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much!!

[@khorasanmills9989]

The history of GTNP you describe here is truly amazing. How it all came to be, and I hope I speak for many - the reason we all love this national park. What a beautiful place to visit without restrictions for the most part. So grateful for those who sacrificed to make this happen, and thanks for a great explanation - well done!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@flagmichael]

This is the first of your episodes I have seen - worth a subscription. I wish (boy, do I wish!) I could afford a Patreon commitment at this time. Hopefully by Q3 of next year....

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for being here and I appreciate any support you can give! Comments and likes go a long way as well and I'm grateful for each and every one of them 🙏🏻

[@mariapark2374]

Fascinating story, definitely would like to hear more of these.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That's what this channel is all about! Lots more stories to come!

[@mr.naughtypants7069]

I'm from Florida but I like to go to Jackson for the Rendezvous Festival, I go snowmobiling for a few days in Yellowstone and Bridger, then a few days of skiing at Teton Village or Snow King. I just love it there, the place is beautiful. I'm glad our forefathers persevered it.

[@VisionsandRevisions]

Fascinating and very well done. I just discovered this channel and have subscribed.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and welcome to the community!

[@meganstahlberger608]

I didn't know this! I'm glad it is all preserved. Such a pretty place with so much wildlife

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Those bear jams...

[@taurial67]

Excellent documentary. Nice channel. Thank you.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!!

[@Pammipooh62]

Very interesting! I lived in Jackson Hole Wyoming. And I also lived in Teton Village. I worked at snow King and Alpenhof . Alpenhof was sold in 1988 but it’s an historical site. What an awesome place to live in the early 80’s. Haven’t been back heard it’s changed as all towns do!

[@BravyM9]

This was fascinating! I think it all sounds so crazy but thank goodness we have Grand Teton NP-l love it. I love all of the NPs. Thanks for this!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@koslund11]

Breath taking beauty. Spent a week at Colter Village Campground. A few of the pics are hanging on my walls as I write this. Love our Parks.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Couldn't agree more!

[@nemo227]

You have a good voice for narrating. Good channel.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@WolfPackM98c]

Just recently spent a few days in the park and couldn't help but be curious about the background behind the tourism situation there while planning the trip. The whole area (park and surrounding cities) all thrive on tourism and ensure you pay handsomely into their system for your visit.

[@rikspector]

Thank you, I spent the summers of 68 and 69 travelling the country and visiting many of our National Parks and Monuments. Although I visited Yellowstone, I only saw The Grand Tetons from a distance.. I see now what a wonderful area I missed, but your story adds a whole new dimension to this beautiful place ands what it took to protect it. I spent more time in Monuments than Parks and unlike popular belief, many Monuments can be as beautiful and almost a large as the parks. Though often less visited, which I liked because sometimes I was nearly the only visitor, I had a glimpse into significant areas of our Nation which are often overlooked. You are doing a wonderful service to us because you are highlighting what is often unknown about the history of these great regions. Thank you so much, Frederick "Rik: Spector

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching! I'm glad you're enjoying the channel, and I look forward to bringing you more stories!

[@davidfusco6600]

Great job! Very informative about the Grand Tetons. Thanks

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@dr.thomasklinemdphdmedical2890]

very cool journalism keep going

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@FireflyXOXO1]

I love your storying telling ability

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@mind5533]

I love Grand Teton NP! Very interesting history. Thanks. I’ll be subscribing.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and welcome to the community!

[@nuggin]

Great storytelling!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!!

[@alecfromminnenowhere2089]

I first visited grand Teton NP in March 1988 by a 50 passenger flight out of Denver. The pilot lost control of the plane on the snowy runway and we skidded sideways down the tarmac. We all cheered when he regained control. Collectively we all took a breath and got off the plane. Later I learned the Airport is in the national park. Odd.

[@jsbthomas]

I was not aware of the legalities. But in 2001 I went to Jackson Hole for Christmas, my husband having passed recently.. I took two different sleigh rides out with the Elk in the Elk Preserve and enjoyed the mountain views and the little communities in the area. I also enjoyed driving around some of the farms and seeing the hay stacked like loafs of bread. I am glad they included the land that Rockefeller bought and donated. It helped to make my trip a success. Thanks for making this video and explaining the different actions that the government took to make it what it is now.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Glad I could help - thanks for watching!

[@darthmalius]

Saw your video on our coastal redwoods, while I think it’s a bit of an incomplete picture as to the question it answers I still liked it. In that vein have you consider doing Stout Grove ?

[@billcudd7844]

Excuse me. This first national monument America ever had is Devils Tower National Park. Located in WY.

[@GamerplayerWT]

Those Dune books in the background looking pretty fly!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Haha, thank you!

[@tedsmith3061]

Great job! I did a book report on this park as a kid...in the 60's.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@user-pd5ot4zd4b]

Really interesting. I've seen this sort of tension and controversy at the state level as well. In Wisconsin, the creation of Peninsula state park was fraught during the interwar years, now, it's the gem of the entire area. I imagine people haven't changed much.

[@LionessHiker]

Great story! No, I didn’t know this before your presentation. 😮

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@chiefmonrovia6691]

You should look into Wisconsins Apostle Islands. I know they're technically a national lakeshore, but I really think they could be a candidate for a future national park

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Great Lakes parks are a big blind spot for me still. Definitely want to venture out there some day and explore and do a story!

[@roadhog6603]

Very informative. Thanks for sharing.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@geogypsytraveler]

Thanks for sharing this story, I didn't know.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@lindacorvan5177]

Very good presentation, thank you. The famed actor who took part in the cattle drive was Wallace Beery. You can pronounce his last name as beer with a y at the end, or as berry as in raspberry.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and good catch! I actually had his name right in my script, but just misspoke 😅

[@dulcimama]

Enjoying your posts. BTW, I think that is Wallace Beery, not Beede.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Beery is who I mentioned in the episode! Thanks for watching!

[@donnabrowne5307]

Excellent content and a well-written script, much superior to most YT videos.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@bobduncan-ix7sh]

@@NationalParkDiarieswhat about devils tower

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Devil's Tower was proclaimed before the Grand Teton legislation took effect. It was proclaimed in 1906 by Teddy Roosevelt, while the Grand Teton legislation was adopted in 1950. Existing monuments were not affected.

[@contentelizabeth2226]

Very interesting history - I knew part, but not all of the background. I was a resident of Jackson, WY for 15 years (2005-2020) and found an unfortunate, subtle shift in the purpose and usage of both YNP and GTNP. Originally, the parks were preserved so people could enjoy the unspoiled, natural beauty, as well as see wildlife in its natural environment. The shift I that I saw, is that the land is now preserved for the wildlife primarily, and not so much for the people to enjoy - with more and more restrictions being placed on spaces within the parks. With only 3% of Teton County being private land, it has artificially raised the price of real estate in and around the Jackson Hole area, so that only the extremely wealthy can afford to live there. Sad.

[@xbubblehead]

Artificially raising the price of real estate is an interesting concept. I have no idea what it means, though. Is it like building a railroad and now places that were difficult to reach are now open to settlement?

[@monsignormurphy]

Thank you for this excellent teaching tool.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching, glad I could help!

[@tom80]

Great video and narrative. Thank you for the research and effort. The Grand Tetons is probably the most beautiful range I have run across in my travels in North America. The lowlands only make the mountains look more majestic. I have Kodak slides from the 70's when I was just a kid. They look fantastic.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulbutterfield6924]

Wow! I have been there and skied Jackson Hole for a week. Did not know about this. Interesting. Thank you.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@planescaped]

"Establishing the park was compared to pearl harbor and Hitler" The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I was floored when I read about that...

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Great video!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!!

[@camberweller]

Excellent summary. New subscriber.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you and welcome to the channel!

[@jasonlovell3934]

Great job. I think it is always important to keep the phrase public land, public access at the forefront of any discussion about our public lands. The national monument classification pretty much keeps everyone off land we all own.

[@willar7179]

And that’s a good thing because we do, in fact, ALL own it.

[@briangasser973]

@@willar7179 The lands are owned by the US govt, but the people of WY would like to be able to use it (ranching, timber...) to support their economy. The question isn't ownership, but usage.

[@willar7179]

@@briangasser973 the U S government is We the People and some of us would like to be able to use our lands without stepping in your cow pies.

[@willar7179]

@@briangasser973 sorry, I get a little hot about this because I live in Oregon where a bunch of cowboys with guns came in and took over one of our wildlife refuges. I don’t believe that the rest of us should have to pay taxes to provide grazing lands and timbers for a small percentage of us to get wealthy from destroying.

[@Noidzor]

Very cool of Rockefeller Jr to donate the late he acquired. Awesome video as always!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@reddeercanoe]

The French Canadian Voyageurs named the mountains Grande Taton . You can guess what they were equating the mountains to.

[@filmic1]

Really fascinating. What a tug of war that Antiquities Act. I'm a Canadian following the development of our own National Park (Parks Canada and Historical branch) system. I wonder if Aldo Leopold had any input into Grand Teton's establishment? Thank-you!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I didn't come across any Aldo Leopold involvement when I was researching, but no doubt he was very influential in a lot of these conversations, especially post WWII.

[@DavidHaney1]

Good job, great story !!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@edwardboland879]

Like the content and appreciate all the effort

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@ghost21501]

Just found your channel. Great stuff! Has a Johnny Harris vibe.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

The biggest compliment you could have paid me! Johnny is a huge inspiration of mine ❤

[@kwgm8578]

Thank you. That was well written and I enjoyed your narrative. The ranchers and tourist wranglers were probably better served by leaving the area a national monument, but some folks are stubborn in spite of their best interests. Now that we have a park, the protections are locked in. I've lived in the American West for all of my adult life and have visited the parks many times. If you're reading this and have never been, that area of NW Wyoming is uniquely beautiful and still very wild. Auto access to most of Yellowstone and the uplands of the Tetons is restricted -- similarly to my neighborhood park, Rocky Mountain -- however, there is still plenty to see from the roads. To enjoy the wilderness areas, as in most of our western national parks, you must get out and walk. I lost count the number of times I've enjoyed these parks, but it is probably well over a dozen. If you haven't been, go. Mid-September is a good time to visit, after the crowds have gone and before the snow sets in, although that's a winter experience many enjoy in the Jackson area. Thanks again for your video.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I was fortunate enough to visit the Tetons back in '18 and was completely in awe of their beauty. A very special park indeed. Thanks so much for watching!

[@kwgm8578]

@@NationalParkDiaries Thank you! I have been enjoying your channel.

[@JollyJuiice]

A small price to pay for progress

[@CaptRandall1]

Back in 1968, my parents and I went on vacation and visited the Teton/ Jackson Ho;e and Yellowstone area. All three of us loved the areas, the beauty and more. I am extremely happy that all of the Teton/ Jackson Hole area was saved since it would have been a vast loss to the natural beauty of the area if it was not all saved.

[@oooh19]

Jackson Hole is criminally underrated such a great area frankly you can walk around and shop eat etc a lot to do walking distance

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I agree!

[@shanerobb3350]

Good video. Complicated topic. There are still similar scenarios in other states. While I love those parks and grew up in Wyoming, I also find it problematic for the federal government to essentially take land from a state, without due process and that state’s concurrence.

[@user-bz3qr7kn4m]

Years ago I gentleman that had been a history professor at the University of Wyoming wrote a book called "The Cruible for Conservation" all about the strugle and the fight for Teton National Park. I gave my copy of the book to the public library in Falgstaff Arizonia I believe. There use to be a book that the NPS was forced to sell in the late 80's because it show them in a good light. Called "Playing God in Yellowstone" and that is what the Author Alston Chase contened that that is what park Service was doing especially in the Yellowstone NP. I wound up speniding the better part of 30 years working on yellowstone, the Everrglades, and both the North Rim and The South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

[@newshodgepodge6329]

Very informative. Subbed 👍

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Welcome to the community!

[@andremartins7150]

Hey! So I’d love to see more information on Katahdin Woods and Waters national monument. The place is beautiful and wild and I feel like the situation there might have some story. The only way to get into it is through an unpacked road and there’s no facilities. The only visitor center is miles away

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That would be a good one to talk about. Relatively new to the system, so not a lot of infrastructure yet. I'm not sure what plans they have in that regard, but Maine is a really fascinating place for NPS units given the overall lack of them on the East Coast. I'll keep it in mind, thanks for the suggestion!

[@laurenrs]

Fantastic storytelling! That's truly sad that bringing another national park to Wyoming will be so difficult, but at least it saved the Tetons. I just came back from 3 days in Tetons, and I can easily say it's one of my favorite national parks I've been to. Great work, again!

[@michaelbarrister429]

I'm curious to know what other areas in Wyoming should have been made into national parks.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@scotcoon1186]

​@michaelbarrister429 everything between the eastern and western borders, if you let government and people who dont understand land management have their way.

[@pchris6662]

This has been happening all the time. There are so many treasured lands that are loved and managed by the locals. We use it for sheep, cattle, hunting, day trips, weekend fishing and we love our public lands and if you leave us alone, we generally can manage it much better than anyone because we know what makes it special. Then, along come rich city folk and politicians who insist on mucking things up and pulling tricks all designed to seize control of it because they know better. Then we end up with thousands of tourist who helicopter in, take a few picture, trash the place, shit and piss all over then helicopter back to their filthy crime ridden city and tell us how much “they” and only “they” love it and want to protect our land that we have been taking care of for hundreds of years. This is happening in my home town. A very famous national park is managed by the par service. This is land my family loved and cherished for many years. I’ve spent countless dozens of trips out there in that beautiful country on overnight trips, weekends, picnics, fishing, you name it. Now, we have to pay $50 to go there and make reservations 30 days in advance and the land is chock full of tourists and the local people can’t realistically use it at all any more because the park service has turned it into a big giant corporation that makes $millions. We know it’s there, us old gray haired people on social security would like to go visit but can’t. …and we have all these smart young 20 something’s clog up our grocery stores, build hotels every 200 feet in our little town, utterly overwhelm our tiny sewage treatment, use all our ground water, overrun our grid, force us to build three more landfills to handle all of their trash and then they come and tell us every day how lucky we are to live right next to one of the most beautiful places on earth and how much they love it while they have utterly destroyed it and our little town. But great video…tell me more about tourism and how wonderful it is for our wild lands and how much you rich city people have all the right answers to our problems because obviously us, poor local people who spent our whole lives here and are invested in this land and call it home obviously don’t have any answers or should have any input :/

[@mtnman3MTA3]

Please don’t be upset if someone uses our public land that belongs to all of us, not just the locals. Old people can buy a lifetime National Parks pass for less than $100. It used to be free before trump changed it. Anyone can buy an annual pass so they don’t have to pay $50 each visit. You might be thankful that you live near a beautiful National Park.

[@pchris6662]

@@mtnman3MTA3 I’m only upset in that so few tourists realize just how much they impact the land and the heavy price we pay as a result as our political leaders scramble for the “free” tourist dollars. Here’s just one example. I our small town back in the 50s we build a landfill that was designed to last 200 years. That was overflowed 10 ears ago now and they’ve had to destroy pristine wild land 3x that size to keep up and it’s overflowing with flies and smell. In wild lands restrained by geography there is a limit to how many people can reasonably directly impact it. Meanwhile, yes there are programs, but nothing puts my wife and I anywhere near the top of the waiting list that’s all booked up for weeks and months. But this is nothing new and will not change. My sister in law is just as obtuse to it. She thinks if she tips the hotel maids an extra $10 on the side she’s part of the solution.

[@cbpd89]

If the crowding is as bad as you say, then you can only live near one of maybe 5-6 national parks. Zion is one of the busiest in the country, but it still has an off season. Demanding good infrastructure and land management isn't unreasonable, tourism is a double edged sword, but hating tourists puts you right up there with the residents of Paris and Barcelona. You've got a lot in common with those big city "rich" people. It sounds like there is a reservation system specifically to prevent the overcrowding issues you've been dealing with. Lots of national parks have free and discounted passes for locals, so if this is something you're passionate about I'd suggest pushing for that at your local park. Rapid expansion in an area is always hard, it never goes smoothly, and losing the intimate and quiet way you used to visit such a beautiful place sounds very painful and frustrating. I can empathize. But probably most of us watching this video wish we could visit and experience these places, so I'm not sure you'll find many of us who think that national parks are a defacto evil. There are many parks that absolutely rescued the land from loggers and cattle destroying it. Saguaro national Park and Sequoia national Park come to mind, as both are home to a tree species that needs at least 100 years to reach maturity. Both were at risk of being wiped out by people, both are being preserved and enjoyed to this day because of the parks service.

[@HubertofLiege]

@@cbpd89grazing and forest management kept our national forests from catastrophic fires which have taken over since the USFS stopped managing the lands in the 80s and 90s. Only now have they started reducing fuel loads to reduce the intensity of fires and smoke.

[@jrnovosel]

Yellowstone and Grand Teton really should be operated as one park. I was out there in 2017 for the Eclipse and traffic was backed up for miles going North getting through the Yellowstone gates.

[@DSToNe19and83]

I was out there during that time as well, it was nuts but still had a awesome time.

[@nightspore4850]

Just found this channel. Subscribed.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Welcome, we're happy to have you!

[@VABrowneMDPhD]

What an excellent summary of the complex and complicated history surrounding the creation of Grand Teton National Park. Missing from the narrative is the perspectives of the Native Americans who lived in the greater Yellowstone-Teton region. I realize that this omission probably reflects the lack of political power among these marginalized people.

[@mtgcardzandreview2756]

Very interesting information about this national park

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@montananerd8244]

Many years ago, we had an opportunity to stay out at the incredible Muir Wilderness Center in the area. Jackson Hole was too snooty back in 2006, I'm sure it's horrible now.

[@ruperterskin2117]

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@nealfry2230]

I'll Always remember my vacation in The GRAND TETON.

[@drtyhay]

Honestly I wish the Tetons were left with the Forest Service instead of the National Park Service. National Parks always end up far more crowded and built up than National Forests