The Spirit of Yellowstone

By Judith L. Meyer

Book Overview

Yellowstone National Park's famous geysers, exotic landscape, and beautiful wildlife partially explain its enormous popularity, but there is something more to the Yellowstone experience--a powerful spirit to the place that is more than the sum of its parts. This fascinating history of America's favorite national park shows how that spirit has endured over Yellowstone's 127-year existence. Meyer shows that Yellowstone has consistently evoked awe in different generations of Americans, even as our attitudes toward nature have changed over the years. That awe is also captured in photographer Vance Howard's evocative images, which, alongside historic photographs and other early artistic interpretations of the Park's wonders, support Meyer's view that Yellowstone's unique sense of place makes it worth preserving not only for its ecological value but for its lasting importance in American culture.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157098395X
• ISBN13: 9781570983955
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Roberts Rinehart Publishers
• Length: 146 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A novel look at Yellowstone

This is a departure from the many books that focus on Yellowstone's natural history. Meyer, instead, traces the park's human history and the development of images that first captured the public's attention and led to establishment of the first national park. Most of the book is quite scholarly and analytical, gaining momentum when Meyer attempts to delve into the minds of the first explorers to record and stand in amazement at Yellowstone's wonders. Illustrated with many early drawings of the park, The Spirit of Yellowstone is not exactly light reading, but is a must for any serious student of the park.