The 1870 Expedition That Found Boiling Earth, Shooting Geysers, and Grizzly Bears in Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park

Most people thought the stories were lies. Tales of boiling fountains and steaming pools sounded too wild to be real. Then the Washburn crew came back with proof in 1870, launching one of our greatest parks. Here’s what they found in Wyoming’s wilderness, and how you can see it all yourself.

The Journey Begins At Fort Ellis

The group of nine civilians and several soldiers met at Fort Ellis on August 22, 1870. Lieutenant Doane led the soldiers who would protect them.

They traveled through Bozeman Pass and along Trail Creek toward the Yellowstone River. The first night, they camped beside the river.

They brought enough food for forty days and plenty of bullets. Most people thought stories about Yellowstone were made up, even though Native Americans had known about these lands for thousands of years.

Ascending Mount Washburn

By late August, the group reached Tower Creek. On the 29th, they climbed a tall mountain they later named Mount Washburn.

From the top, at 10,219 feet high, they could see everything. A deep canyon cut through the land. Green meadows spread out below.

A huge lake sparkled in the distance. Lieutenant Doane was amazed by what he saw. They named the mountain after their leader, creating a lasting reminder of their journey.

The Grand Canyon And Yellowstone Falls

The group reached Yellowstone Falls on August 30 and spent several days exploring. Doane wrote that the canyon looked like a giant pit.

The canyon walls showed bright colors – red, orange and yellow – dropping hundreds of feet to the river. They camped in meadows nearby and took trips to see the waterfalls.

The Lower Falls drops 308 feet. The Upper Falls drops 109 feet. These powerful waterfalls became important parts of the stories they later told.

Exploration Of Yellowstone Lake

On September 3, the group crossed the Yellowstone River and traveled to Yellowstone Lake. By September 7, they had walked along the eastern shore to the southern end of the lake.

This huge lake sits high in the mountains. During this time, Langford and Doane climbed mountains that would later be named after them.

On September 9, they reached a special place where water splits to flow toward both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was here that trouble began.

Discovery Of Old Faithful Geyser

On September 18, the group was walking along the Firehole River when they saw water shooting up from the ground.

Washburn noticed this water spout erupted regularly, about every 74 minutes. He named it “Old Faithful” because they could count on when it would erupt.

This became the first named geyser in Yellowstone. Old Faithful shot water high into the air in an amazing display. The men touched the hot rocks around it, amazed by what they were seeing.

Exploration Of Geyser Basins

The group explored areas filled with hot springs and geysers. These places had more hot water features than anywhere else on Earth.

From their camp by Firehole River, they spread out to study these wonders. One small area had over 150 geysers. They named seven major geysers during their visit.

The names described how the geysers looked or acted. Doane said this place was unlike anywhere else in the world. Native people had known about these features for generations.

Truman Everts Becomes Lost

On September 9, Truman Everts got lost. He was separated from the group in thick forests near Yellowstone Lake.

After getting off his horse to walk through rough ground, the horse ran away with all his supplies, gun, blankets, and matches. The group searched for seven days but couldn’t find him.

Three men stayed behind to keep looking while the others continued their journey. Most thought Everts had died in the wilderness.

Wildlife Observations During The Expedition

Throughout their journey, the explorers saw many animals living in this untouched land. They found signs of buffalo herds near Firehole River.

Many animals gathered near hot springs to stay warm in cold weather. The men wrote detailed notes about the animals they saw, creating some of the first scientific records of Yellowstone’s wildlife.

At this time, there were no laws to protect these animals. Hunting continued until after the park was created in 1872.

The Survival Of Truman Everts

Everts survived 37 days alone in the wilderness, creating an amazing survival story. He stayed alive by eating roots from thistle plants, which were later named “Everts’ Thistle.”

Using his small opera glass to focus sunlight, he made fires. He made simple tools from his belt buckle and pins, including a hook for catching fish.

On October 10, searchers found him near Gardner River. Everts had crawled for miles, starving but somehow still alive.

The Expedition’s Return And Legacy

Lieutenant Doane and his soldiers left on September 23, returning to Fort Ellis. The civilians continued to Helena.

Cornelius Hedges wrote newspaper stories about what they had found. These stories gave people their first real information about Yellowstone.

In early 1871, Langford gave talks in cities across America about their discoveries. These efforts convinced Congress to create the world’s first national park in 1872, protecting Yellowstone for future generations.

Visiting Yellowstone National Park

Visit Yellowstone National Park (PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168) with $35 vehicle entrance fees valid for seven days.

The park operates 24/7 year-round through North and Northeast entrances, with seasonal openings for other gates.

You can book guided bus tours, wildlife tours, snowcoach excursions, and Historic Yellow Bus experiences through authorized operators like Xanterra and Yellowstone Vacation Tours.

Read More on WhenInYourState.com:

• This Strange Wyoming Formation Looks Like Someone Dropped Utah in Middle of Cattle Country
• 800-Feet Hexagonal Columns from Molten Rock Created America’s 1st National Monument
• Thanks to the Shoshone Tribe, Bathing In These Ancient Hot Springs Is Free to the World Forever