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Trains, Travelers, & Trinkets: History of Tourism in Yellowstone

Trains, Travelers, & Trinkets: History of Tourism in Yellowstone

$812.50
Dates:
September 6 - 9
Location:
Gardiner, Montana
Meals Included?:
No
Instructors:
Elizabeth "Betsy" Watry, M.A.
Audience Type:
Adult
Program Type:
Field Seminars
Program Subject:
Cultural History
(Activity Scale)
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Transcontinental railroad service to the American West in the late nineteenth-century made visiting Yellowstone feasible for travelers from around the globe. Tourism boomed as thousands of visitors alighted from the train and boarded brightly colored stage coaches (1883-1916) or touring cars (1917-1950s) and embarked on a grand tour of Yellowstone. Enjoy a glimpse into the evolution of tourism in America’s “Wonderland” in this field-intensive course that will explore many of Yellowstone’s bygone cultural landscapes as well as the park’s memorabilia collection at the Yellowstone Heritage and Resource Center.

About the instructor

Elizabeth “Betsy” Watry holds a Master’s Degree in History from Montana State University and is an independent scholar specializing in nineteenth and early-twentieth century cultural history of the American West. Her primary research interests are exploration, transportation, tourism, and women’s history. A published author with several books on Yellowstone National Park, her book Women in Wonderland: Lives, Legends, and Legacies of Yellowstone National Park won the 2013 WILLA Literary Award for Scholarly Non-fiction. In addition to being a historian and author, she has also served as a museum professional in Arizona, Montana, and Wyoming.

Download Program Information:

Trains, Travelers, and Trinkets Course Letter

More Information:

Lodging | Audience Descriptions

We are continually updating and refining our COVID-19 mitigation measures to ensure the health and safety our guests, staff and volunteers. Read our COVID-19 guidelines for program participants.

SUMMER ACTIVITY LEVEL SCALE

  • Be prepared to hike up to 1 mile per day, comfortably, through relatively flat terrain on maintained trails.
  • Be prepared to hike up to 3 miles per day, comfortably, with elevation gains up to 600 feet. Some off-trail hiking possible.
  • Be prepared to hike up to 5 miles per day, comfortably, with occasional elevation gains up to 1000 feet in undulating terrain.
  • Be prepared to hike up to 8 miles per day, at a brisk pace, comfortably, with climbs up to 1500 feet on dirt trails. Loose rocks, uneven footing, and off-trail hiking are possible. Good coordination is recommended.
  • Be prepared for brisk aerobic, destination-oriented hiking up to 12 miles a day. You should be physically conditioned to do these hikes comfortably. Elevation changes up to 2000 feet on dirt trails or off-trail. Loose rock, uneven footing, steep hillside traverses, and stream crossings are possible. Good coordination is required.

WINTER ACTIVITY LEVEL SCALE

  • Leisurely hikes up to 1 mile per day through relatively flat terrain on maintained or snow-packed trails.
  • Hikes on snow-packed trails, or snowshoe or ski trips, up to 3 miles per day with climbs up to 250 feet.
  • Brisk hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing up to 5 miles per day with climbs up to 500 feet, including some trail-breaking in snow.
  • Brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 8 miles per day with climbs up to 1000 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.
  • Brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 12 miles per day with climbs up to 1500 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.