Saving Yellowstone

About the Book

FOR MOST OF August 1883 a military expedition headed by President Chester A. Arthur and guided by Lt. Gen. Philip Sheridan crossed 500 miles of lightly settled Wyoming Territory. The goal was to reach Yellowstone National Park and tour it before returning to civilization. Arthur was the first president to visit the park, and the only president to make an extensive overland march, mostly on horseback. A primary objective of the expedition was to raise the awareness of U.S. citizens to the attractions along the route, and the need for preservation of the park, which was threatened by vandalism, commercial development, and official neglect.

About the Author

BOB HARTLEY fell in love with the West in the 1960s. Since then he has lived and traveled in, studied and written about the region. He learned of the 1883 expedition of President Chester A. Arthur to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Hartley presented a history paper on the subject, and a magazine article was published. The approaching 125th anniversary of Arthur’s trip (2008) inspired this book. Hartley is the author of six published books on history and politics, including Death Underground: The Centralia and West Frankfort Mine Disasters and Lewis & Clark in the Illinois Country: The Little-Told Story. He and his wife, Mary, live in Westminster, Colorado.