For months, residents of Jackson Hole speculated about why the Snake River Land Company would buy so much land for no apparent purpose. In , after all the desired land was purchased, Albright, now director of the National Park Service, and Rockefeller disclosed their partnership. The secrecy of the project, combined with the association of the National Park Service in the minds of local residents with federal control, all added to Rockefeller's status as an East Coast millionaire, brought on a storm of protest.
Landowners came forward with accusations that they had been coerced into selling their land, or had received an unfairly low price. Wyoming Sen. Robert Carey held public meetings to express his support for residents and wrote to Rockefeller's attorney "We are not willing to see this section of Wyoming exploited or its citizens driven out to gratify Mr. Albright's ambition or to establish a monopoly for the benefit of Mr.
Rockefeller's agents. A few Jackson Hole residents were changing their minds and supporting park extension, but as Murie wrote decades later, the park was a "burning topic Card parties, dinner parties had their embarrassments if certain ones prominent on 'the other side' were present There was no such thing as getting together and talking it over.
The next step for the Park Service would have been to ask the U. Congress for legislation accepting the land from Rockefeller and adding it to the park, but this was not possible. Hearings were held in Jackson during the summer of The findings indicated that while most of the accusations of coercion and unfair payment were untrue, the Park Service had not been entirely blameless.
In Jackson Hole, as in most western states, there were homesteaders who had not patented their land within the required five years of taking up the claim, but were still living on it. The U. General Land Office often did nothing to repossess such homesteads for seven or eight years or even longer. In Jackson Hole, however, Park Service agents worked with representatives of the land office to identify and evict residents who did not have legal title to their land.
While this practice was not illegal, neither was it in line with the treatment usually given such homesteaders in other parts of the state. In at least one case, GLO officials refused to patent the land of a homesteader who was in fact entitled to the property. Over the next decade, Rockefeller continued to hold the undeveloped land while the National Park Service tried to get a law passed incorporating it into the national park.
The first attempt in was supported by Carey, by Wyoming Sen. Leslie Miller. The Forest Service and the U. Biological Survey, precursor to the modern Fish and Wildlife Service, also backed the idea, although both agencies had expressed interest in acquiring the Rockefeller land. At the last minute, the proposal failed because of opposition in Washington to a provision to reimburse Teton County for the taxes it would lose over 20 years when so much land was transferred from private to federal ownership.
Federal Budget Bureau officials feared that setting such a precedent would encourage hundreds of other western counties to demand payments on federal land within their boundaries.
The next obstacle was the National Park Association, an influential, private conservation organization, which opposed including the Rockefeller land in any national park.
The association also argued that Jackson Lake, located within the area, was no longer in its natural state because of its expansion by a dam in Including the lake in a national park, according to this group, could allow advocates of development to propose dams within other national parks.
Additionally, the flat, sagebrush-and-pine-covered land was not nearly as scenic as the Tetons and might, they claimed, harm the reputation of national parks as a whole. The Forest Service also withdrew its support. For these reasons, another attempt to pass a park extension bill in quickly failed. In , Rockefeller advised U. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes that he was unwilling to hold the land much longer.
Since there appeared little possibility of getting a bill through Congress, in , President Franklin Roosevelt issued an executive order, which created Jackson Hole National Monument and contained the Rockefeller lands.
Conservation becomes part of the national dialogue, and Olaus Murie begins a long-term study of elk in the Tetons. The National Elk Refuge is a must-see. Take a tour, bring your camera, and enjoy the majesty of this critical part of the ecosystem. Grand Teton National Park was established on February 26, The executive order was signed by then-President Calvin Coolidge. The original size was 96, acres. This was the result of years of drama between John D. Rockefeller Jr. Rockefeller wanted to donate his surrounding land, but the government did not have funds to protect the additional acreage.
After threats and an ultimatum, they came to an agreement, and the land became the new Jackson Hole National Monument. Colter Bay Visitor Center opens.
Grand Teton National Park had seen massively increased visitation, and this helped accommodate the influx of tourists. Colter Bay Visitor Center has interactive displays, as well as a perfect launch point for hiking and other outdoor recreation. Some of the most expansive, destructive fires in the history of the national parks burn through Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
Drive the John D. Rockefeller Parkway to see the impact of the burn firsthand. Rock glaciers, long neglected by science, may help creatures from pikas to stoneflies endure climate change. In the summer of , my bride and I lived in a snug two room log cabin 6 miles up Cascade Canyon, just two miles below Lake Solitude. They harken back to a more pristine America, before development and habitat destruction, and remind us of what's truly important-clean air and water, an abundant diversity of flora and fauna, and natural places we can share with family and friends.
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them. Skip to navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer. Act Now. Donate menu icon Menu. Visibility Moderate Concern. Farther north, Jackson Lake offers paddle sports, sailing, water skiing, and windsurfing. Boat rentals, scenic cruises, and guided fishing trips are available at Colter Bay Marina.
Day hikers can trek the Hermitage Point Trail 9 miles from the marina to a secluded stretch of lakeshore. A stroll through the lake district along the Lupine Meadows Trail and Taggart Lake Trail 7 miles one way is relatively flat and easy and affords amazing views.
Put some oomph into the hike with steep-ascent side trips to Amphitheater Lake or Garnet Canyon. No matter what you choose to do, Grand Teton National Park offers stunning views and adventure for everyone. Just be aware that few trails are marked and it's largely a wilderness, backcountry experience. Ranger-led snowshoe hikes are an excellent way to start. Check with the Park Service for details.
All rights reserved. Teton Range Unencumbered by foothills, the Tetons make one of the boldest geologic statements in the Rockies.
The pandemic has disrupted travel to national parks and wilderness areas. You can also search for parks by state. Planning a visit to a nearby park? Where to stay.
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