Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park is a huge place so it's taking a lot of effort to post the basics and pick and choose from 1000 photos. Yesterday's post was just too much and I wasn't happy with it, but after a few hours I gave in and closed it. Today is an easy topic. The historic lodging is more then I can explain. The hydrology gets the billboard but the buildings deserve the billing. The jewel is Old Faithful Lodge.

 Old Faithful Lodge

 Snow Lodge

Yellowstone Lodge

Roosevelt Lodge

That's about the order. There are one or two other grand lodges that burned down or fell victim to other disasters.  The park founder and president at the time asked for this to be the nations first park, for the people. POTUS Grant created the park in 1872, managed by the Army from Fort Yellowstone.  The National Park Service was founded in 1904. 

We'll jump back to Old Faithful for some show and tell.

 Inside the main house of Old Faithful Inn.

 The craftsmen that made these were only interested in doing a good job. One or two men did the best work they knew how and it's still impressive.

 Who sat here and wrote the last letter, in cursive? At some point in time, there was a wait to use this desk. Today, it's unlikely to get visitors. Nobody stocks paper and envelops, it's a technology orphan.

The brand under the writing desk shows "Limberts". This stuff hasn't been made since 1923.

 The stairs opposite go to the 'Crows Nest' where the orchestra played. An earthquake in '59 damage the structure so you can't go up. :(

 This is the Crows Nest.

 This fireplace has 4 hearths. One on each face.

Old Faithful Inn is easily the best. It was easy to look at and I didn't have any trouble inspecting the craftsmanship.

This door goes into room 229 but I get the feeling it could just as well be John Malkovich's head.

 Yellowstone cabs are for expensive sightseeing but very cool.

 Copper clad table base

Ceiling Air vent.

We now move to Snow Lodge

 One evening we carpet camped in front of the fireplace to read travel guides and plan tomorrows activities. It was nice, better without 40 stranded Japanese tourists from what we could tell a broke or crashed buss.

Looking out towards Old Faithful from the main hallway.

This is the great room at Snow Lodge but the adjacent Cafeteria dinning hall is just as nice. We saw Old Faithful blow near sundown over lasagna with mixed veggie's and spinach salad.

Snow Lodge is my favorite, It's very nice yet not crowded.

Lets Beat Antiques over to Lake Yellowstone Hotel

 Tourists arrive.

 Come on in.

We have lots of seating if you don't mind 1970 wicker.  

But, we have nice tile work.

 Lets jump over to Mammoth Hotel

This is a marquetry map in the hotel.

Mammoth is a town more than any other. The Post office is in Mammoth.

 We can come back to Mammoth later. There are a few thing I need to show first. Let's get over to see the last lodge and then have some camp dinner.

This lodge was already closed to the public for the season. They are instructing rangers or something for next season. It's obviously the smallest - you can't stay in the lodge, just in the out cabins. The lodge is used for a communal area and dining...if you're not participating in the chuck-wagon dinners down the road.

 Rental cabins.

 Beat it back to camp for dinner and a fire.

 Morning Coffee with Oatmeal

Tomorrow we'll hit a few fun pictures and then run down to the Tetons for a back country camp at 8,700ft. I can't not talk about gear, the orange tops we are wearing are down shirts. :) It's our new go to morning gear.