# Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (Northern Pacific Railway)/Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone Park
In connection with the Lewis and Clark Exposition those who journey thither, and who can do so, should plan to visit Yellowstone Park en route.
This marvelous Wonderland, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, stands unrivaled among globe travelers as the most unusual, strangest, most educative spot on the face of the earth. There are other places where some one or more of the phenomena found here can be seen in greater or lesser degree, but there is no place where such a concatenation of the weird and wonderful productions of nature can be seen, and on such a lavish and profound scale. It is impossible to describe them. Even pictures but faintly depict the reality. The heavenly hues of Emerald pool, the weird fascination of the Black Growler or the Giantess geyser, the beauty of sculpture to be seen at Pulpit terrace, the ugliness of Mud volcano, which, despite its ugliness, holds you with a firm grip, the magnificence and grandeur of the Grand cañon—these must be seen and felt to be understood, and can not be adequately described in set terms. There is a tremendous muchness about the Yellowstone Park. There are 3,000 or more hot springs, about 100 geysers, nearly 30 waterfalls, 100 prominent named mountain peaks, ranging from 6,500 to more than 11,000 feet in altitude, more than 40 lakes, 150 streams having names, with many cañons, valleys, and other physical features of interest.
It requires a minimum of six days to see these things, starting from Livingston, Mont., on the main line of the Northern Pacific, making the tour of the park, and returning to Livingston. More time should be given to the trip, however, so that one can stop from one to three days at each hotel and thus more leisurely, thoroughly, and with far more satisfaction and enjoyment see each locality. There is not the least additional expense entailed for transportation in stopping over in this way, and the entire summer may be profitably spent here.
At Livingston the park branch line of the Northern Pacific leaves the main line and extends to Gardiner, at the northern boundary of the park, and the Government official entrance. At this point and in immediate proximity to the railway station, an original and artistic log structure, stands the $10,000 lava stone arch whose cornerstone President Roosevelt laid in the spring of 1903.
During the park season the Northern Pacific runs Pullman standard sleeping cars from St. Paul and Portland direct to Gardiner and vice versa, an accommodation much appreciated by the public.
The transportation in the park—no railways of any sort being allowed therein—is by means of large,
There is a hotel, thoroughly modern, at each important place for sightseeing in the park. These hotels are all steam heated, electric lighted, and are supplied with barbers, bath, etc. Two of them, Old Faithful Inn at Upper geyser basin and the Colonial hotel at Yellowstone lake, are new and unusually attractive. The former is a wonderful structure of boulders and logs, the surprise and delight of all who enter its massive portals. It overlooks most of the large geysers and its fittings and appointments, including a search-light turned on the geysers each night, are in keeping with this wonderland. The Colonial hotel at the lake is a gem of its kind —a restful, reposeful, stately building overlooking Yellowstone lake and the Absaroka range of high mountains that frames it. At this point also is found unlimited trout fishing, free as the mountain air which the angler breathes. The whole park is a grand trout preserve with five or six different ​species of trout found in its waters, and easily accessible from the different hotels.
The hotel at the Grand cañon is near the Upper and Lower falls and Point Lookout, the latter a projection on the brink of the most wonderfully colored and sculptured gorge in the world. Here, Nature has tried to outdo herself.
Old Faithful Inn, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Park. Bee Hive Geyser in foreground.