An evocative blend of history and nature writing that tells the story
of Yellowstone's evolving significance in American culture through the
stories of ten iconic figures.
Yellowstone is America's premier national park. Today is often a byword
for conservation, natural beauty, and a way for everyone to enjoy the
great outdoors. But it was not always this way. Wonderlandscape
presents a new perspective on Yellowstone, the emotions various natural
wonders and attractions evoke, and how this explains the park's
relationship to America as a whole.
Whether it is artists or naturalists, entrepreneurs or pop-culture
icons, each character in the story of Yellowstone ends up reflecting and
redefining the park for the values of its era. For example, when Ernest
Thompson Seton wanted to observe bears in 1897, his adventures
highlighted the way the park transformed from a set of geological
oddities to a wildlife sanctuary, reflecting a nation was concerned
about disappearing populations of bison and other species. Subsequent
eras added Rooseveltian masculinity, democratic patriotism, ecosystem
science, and artistic inspiration as core Yellowstone hallmarks.
As the National Park system enters its second century, Wonderlandscape
allows us to reflect on the values and heritage that Yellowstone alone
has come to represent--how it will shape the America's relationship with
her land for generations to come.
