The heart of a territory so vast it was measured not in miles but
degrees, the site of Glacier National Park was indicated as terra
incognita or unexplored on most maps even as late as the dawn of the
present century. To its mountain fastness had come first the solitary
fur trader, the trapper, and the missionary; after them followed the
hunter, the pioneer, and the explorer; in the nineties were drawn the
prospector, the miner, and the picturesque trader of our last frontier;
today, the region beckons the scientist, the lover of the out-of-doors,
and the searcher for beauty. Throughout its days, beginning with the
Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Glacier country has been a lodestone
for the scientist, attracted from every corner of the earth by
the combination of natural wonder and beauty to be found here.
A chronological list of important events in the park's history
follows:
--------+-----------------------------------------------------------------
1804-5 | Lewis and Clark Expedition. Meriwether Lewis reached a
| point 40 miles east of the present park. Chief Mountain
| was indicated as King Mountain on the expedition map.
|
1810 | First definitely known crossing of Marias Pass by white man.
|
1846 | Hugh Monroe, known to the Indians as Rising Wolf,
| visited and named St. Mary Lake.
|
1853 | Cutbank Pass over the Continental Divide was crossed by
| A. W. Tinkham, engineer of exploration party with Isaac
| I. Stevens, Governor of Washington Territory. Tinkham
| was in search of the present Marias Pass, described to
| Governor Stevens by Little Dog, the Blackfeet chieftain.
|
1854 | James Doty explored the eastern base of the range and
| camped on lower St. Mary Lake from May 28 to June 6.
|
1855 | Area now in park east of Continental Divide allotted as
| hunting grounds to the Blackfeet by treaty.
|
1872 | International boundary survey authorized which fixed the
| location of the present north boundary of the park.
|
1882-83 | Prof. Raphael Pumpelly made explorations in the region.
|
1885 | George Bird Grinnell made the first of many trips to the region.
|
1889 | J. F. Stevens explored Marias Pass as location of railroad line.
|
1891 | Great Northern Railroad built through Marias Pass.
|
1895 | Purchase of territory east of Continental Divide from the
| Blackfeet Indians for $1,500,000, to be thrown open to
| prospectors and miners.
|
1901 | George Bird Grinnell published an article in Century Magazine
| which first called attention to the exceptional grandeur
| and beauty of the region and need for its conservation.
|
1910 | Bill creating Glacier National Park was signed by President
| Taft on May 11. Maj. W. R. Logan became first superintendent.
|
1932 | Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park dedicated.
|
1933 | Going-to-the-Sun Highway opened to travel throughout its
| length.
|
1934 | Franklin D. Roosevelt first President to visit Glacier National
| Park.
--------+-----------------------------------------------------------------