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Yellowstone is often described as the world’s first national park, but I’m interested in the thinking behind the decision in 1872. What made the area important enough to protect, and how did people at the time imagine the park would be used?
I’d also like to understand how the idea of public access fit with the protection of the land and the interests of the people already living in or using the region. Was the law mainly about preserving scenery, encouraging tourism, or something broader?
