By Act of Congress on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park was "dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people" and "for the preservation, from injury or spoilation, of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders. . . and their retention in their natural condition." Yellowstone is the first and oldest national park in the world.

Although the commanding features that initially attracted interest, and led to the preservation of Yellowstone as a national park, were geological, Yellowstone National Park interprets a rich human history as well. The human history of the park is evidenced by cultural sites dating back 12,000 years. More recent history can be seen in the historic structures and sites that represent the various periods of park administration and visitor facilities development. The nationally significant Fort Yellowstone-Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District is in the northwestern portion of Yellowstone National Park on an old hot springs formation. The buildings on this plateau represent the first development of administrative and concession facilities in the park. All of the red-roofed, many-chimneyed buildings in the Mammoth region are part of historic Fort Yellowstone. Beginning in 1886, after 14 years of poor civilian management of the park, the Cavalry was called upon to manage the park's resources and visitors. Because the Cavalry only expected to be here a short while, they built a temporary post near the base of the Terraces called Camp Sheridan. After five cold, harsh winters, they realized that their stay in the park was going to be longer than expected, so they built Fort Yellowstone, a permanent post.

Research in Yellowstone continues to uncover and demystify the archeological history of this unique area. Many myths exist about Yellowstone. However, none is more persistent than the notion that American Indian groups rarely ventured into the area because of their fear of the numerous geysers. However, this is not the case. Our current understanding suggests Native Americans have called the area that was to become Yellowstone National Park home for over 10,000 years. Archeologists have only recently begun to investigate and understand how prehistoric groups used upland and mountain environments, for only a short while ago it was believed by many researchers that these areas were too harsh to support a significant number of people. As such, the mountains were considered marginal and somehow unimportant to the major cultural developments that were occurring in the basins and on the plains.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Yellowstone National Park is its concentration of large mammals and other interesting wildlife. Yellowstone is the only place in the lower 48 states where a population of wild bison has persisted since prehistoric times. Bison are the largest mammals in Yellowstone National Park. They are strictly vegetarian, a grazer of grasslands and sedges in the meadows, the foothills, and even the high-elevation, forested plateaus of Yellowstone. Bison males, called bulls, can weigh upwards of 1,800 pounds. Females (cows) average about 1,000 pounds. Both stand approximately six feet tall at the shoulder, and can move with surprising speed to defend their young or when approached too closely by people.