Transition to the National Park Service Fort Yellowstone

mounted u.s. army cavalryman

after serving more 6 years acting superintendent, major john pitcher replaced lieutenant general samuel b.m. young (u.s. army retired) in june 1907. young appointed secretary of interior, james rudolph garfield full superintendent of park. although young senior officer, command of troops @ fort yellowstone given major h. t. allen. young s lasting contribution fort yellowstone s history proposal replace army force of civilian guards. young, had served acting superintendent captain in 1897 recognized dysfunctional , complicated relationships between war department, corps of engineers , interior department congress knew adversely impacting successful administration of park. young s proposal not acted upon, did set stage decade of change saw creation of national park service in 1916 park ranger force protect national parks.

although cavalry had been successful in protecting park, 1914 average soldier not cutout strenuous, diplomatic , tedious nature of work, , high level of training related cavalry skills. world war added further impetus transition civilian management, relieve army of duty performed civilian rangers. in july 1914, 1st cavalry withdrawn yellowstone , replaced composite unit of 200 cavalrymen throughout army, many of whom had served in yellowstone previously.

throughout 1915–16, interior department organizing deal growing number of national parks , ultimately, congress created national park service on august 25, 1916. prior establishment of national park service, in july 1916 war department agreed withdraw troops yellowstone of october 1, 1916, end of park visitation season. @ same time, war department agreed discharge select number of current volunteer cavalry contingent on september 29, 1916, go work national park service park rangers.

unfortunately, congress failed appropriate funds new national park service 1917 , ranger force disbanded in spring of 1917. political pressure montana congressional delegation on loss of economic revenue army presence resulted in recall of army , 450 soldiers 7th cavalry regiment sent fort yellowstone protect park. administrative control remained interior department under supervision of acting superintendent chester allinson lindsley, long time civilian employee in park. relations between army, corps of engineers , interior department continued contentious in 1917–1918 disagreements on proposed construction, ownership of buildings , use of personnel persisted. in 1918, director of national park service stephen mather convinced congress , war department civilian control of national parks under national park service right solution. on october 31, 1918, army left yellowstone last time.