Old Faithful Historic District: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service

Shapins Belt Collins

The Old Faithful Historic District cultural landscape is located in Teton County, Wyoming in the western portion of Yellowstone National Park. It is situated along the park’s Grand Loop Road between Madison and West Thumb, south of the Firehole River. The Old Faithful district is surrounded by areas of lodgepole pines, volcanic cliffs, and a wet meadow. The proposed expanded district encompasses approximately 773 acres and contains historic buildings, landscape features, the trail system, and the overall setting created by the Old Faithful Geyser and nearby thermal features. The Old Faithful Historic District’s proposed period of significance is 1878 to 1942, beginning with the construction of a road spur that connected the Upper Geyser Basin with the park’s west and north entrances, opening the area to visitors. The period ends in 1942, marking the end of a period of park development in terms of both style and volume. The district’s significance is associated with concessions development that occurred alongside increasing visitation to the park, as well as with the Rustic architecture style employed by the National Park Service in an effort to merge natural and built environments. The Old Faithful district retains a number of landscape features and patterns relating to its significance. Areas that contribute to the cultural landscape include the Old Faithful Inn and Lower General Store, the Upper General Store, the Lodge, and the trail network. The spatial organization and circulation within these areas is suggestive of the historic design, setting, and location. The Old Faithful Geyser remains central to the overall organization of the landscape, with buildings and development spreading out in a radial pattern. Throughout the district, buildings and small-scale features remain representative of Rustic style workmanship and materials. Additionally, patterns of lodgepole pine stands are suggestive of the district’s historic vegetation, and views to the Old Faithful Geyser and the Old Faithful Inn remain key features of the cultural landscape. Across the Old Faithful district, natural systems and topographical features remain evocative of the appearance of the historic cultural landscape, and land use patterns still reflect the focus on tourism and visitor services. Automobile circulation has changed dramatically since the period of significance and altered the overall design and feel of the Old Faithful area. The 1972 construction of a bypass road and cloverleaf, along with large parking lots, ended the tradition of visitors driving to and parking by thermal features. The historic arrival and view sequence from the road and parking lots to major features, such as the Old Faithful Geyser and Inn, has been lost. The historic Grand Loop Road entry is now a trail that adheres to the historic road alignment, its use shifting to serve pedestrians rather than automobiles. Other circulation pattens, such as automobile routes around the Inn, lodge, and general store and pedestrian pathways through the Upper Geyser Basin, remain substantially unchanged. Most remaining buildings and structures pre-date 1942, and their materials and workmanship reflect the period of significance; however, the extant landscape does not represent the historic setting in its entirety. Over time, the district has lost a number of features that contributed to its historic feel and function, including the loss of original resources like the Housekeeping cabins, the amphitheater, and the auto campground. Fortunately, several cabins remain near the Old Faithful Lodge. Enough features persist to evoke the feeling and association of automobile tourism and concession development, and the district continues to convey an image of the natural and built landscape during this time period in park history.

Old Faithful Historic District: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service

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