Entering Yellowstone National Park-Passing through new Lava Entrance Arch at Gardiner, Mont., U.S.A.

Publication

Entering Yellowstone National Park-Passing through new Lava Entrance Arch at Gardiner, Mont., U.S.A.

Description

As the tourist travelling on the Park Branch of N. P. R. R., rounds Cinnabar Mountain, he gets his first view of this wonderland about four miles to the south. The portion of the Park first to attract his attention, is the snowcovered cap of Electric Peak towering above the clouds. It is some 11,150 feet high and over its summit passes the northern boundary line of the Park. Near the place where this line crosses the Yellowstone River, is the little village of Gardiner, on the main road of travel to the Park. Gardiner is the terminus of the railroad and a short distance north of the station the exact boundary of the Park is marked by a stone wall, and over the roadway is an immense arch. The arch and wall are built of lava-volcanic rock which was poured from fissures in the earth in a molten condition - taken from the Park. The arch which was but recently completed, is destined to become an historic one as its corner-stone was laid by President Roosevelt on his memorable trip to the Park in 1903. Through the arch is visible the Gardiner railway station, while entering the Park is a six-horse tallyho with its load of sight-seers on their way to Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, some six miles to the south-west and some two thousand feet higher than the Park entrance. The road from Gardiner to Mammoth Hot Springs is now the best in the Park, in fact one of the finest mountain roads in the world, and permits the use of large coaches. From Mammoth Hot Springs smaller coaches have to be used. On a stone near the top of the arch are the words, "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People." The arch is fifty feet high, the opening thirty feet in height and twenty feet wide.