Yellowstone Becomes the First National Park (1872)

Hello there. My name is Ulysses S. Grant, and a long time ago, I was the President of the United States. It was a very important job, and one of the best parts was hearing about all the amazing places in our country. One day, some brave explorers came to tell me about a place in the West called Yellowstone. They described things I could hardly believe. Imagine a fountain, but instead of cool water, it shoots steaming hot water high into the sky. They called it a geyser. They told me about pools of water so colorful they looked like a painter’s palette and bubbling pots of mud that gurgled and plopped. I listened with my mouth wide open, thinking what a wonderful and magical place this must be. It sounded like a land from a fairytale, with giant waterfalls and forests full of bison and bears. I knew right away that a place this special needed to be protected.

Soon, I heard that some people wanted to buy pieces of this incredible land. They wanted to build hotels or farms right next to the colorful pools and steaming geysers. This news made me feel very worried. If they did that, the beauty of Yellowstone could be spoiled. Even worse, only a few people would ever get to see it. It didn't seem fair that such a wonderland would be kept private. I talked with my friends and advisors, and we thought hard about what to do. Then, someone came up with a brand-new idea, something that had never been done before in the whole world. They said, 'What if we don't sell the land to anyone. What if we protect it and keep it open for everyone, forever.'. I thought it was a brilliant idea. A few weeks later, a very important paper was brought to my desk. It was called the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act. Holding it in my hands, I knew I was about to do something that would matter for a very long time.

On a very special day, March 1st, 1872, I sat at my big desk in the White House. I picked up my favorite pen, dipped it in ink, and signed my name on that important paper. With that simple signature, Yellowstone became the very first 'national park' in the world. This meant it was a special place set aside for the enjoyment of all people. It wasn't owned by one person; it belonged to every citizen of the country. It was like giving a giant, beautiful gift to all the children of the future, including you. My decision showed the world how important it is to protect nature's treasures. Because of what we did, other countries started creating their own national parks, saving beautiful forests, mountains, and canyons for everyone to explore. I hope you get to visit a park someday and remember that it’s our job to take care of this beautiful world.