Wonderlandscape (Yellowstone)

Wonderlandscape by John Clayton, a Montana author living just outside of Yellowstone, takes a somewhat different approach in describing the history of Yellowstone Park. Rather than describing  the wonders and recreational opportunities of the place, he takes a sociological, psychological and cultural view in describing the park's history from the early view of it as a dangerous and forbidding place which evolves into a region of geological interest to a wildlife sanctuary to a political football with the advent of the 1988 fires and the introduction of wolves back into the park. In the book he describes the impact of park architecture, particularly the Old Faithful Lodge, the emergence of an educational component in the park's role and the impact of the automobile and mass tourism. Throughout he portrays the park as a great experiment and fulfillment of the American idea of democracy in that it's a park for all.  I'm not sure how that's  going to fit  with the recent increase in park entrance fees. At any, it's a different approach to park history and worth the read.