Established by the United States Army on February 27, 1891 as a permanent post, Fort Yellowstone served as an active Army base for 27 years until it transferred to National park Service control.

Congress dispatched the men of Company M, First United States Cavalry, led by Capt. Moses Harris, to protect the newly established Yellowstone National Park from hunters, vandals and improve the underfunded and corrupt civilian administration. They quickly established a camp and began to take charge over the lands.

Upon reaching the National Park in 1886, Harris and company, thinking the assignment a temporary one, established Camp Sheridan near the foot of the Mammoth Hot Springs.

Under Harris, the Cavalry began to combat the intrusive hunters and the destructive tourists who took “souvenirs” from the various geysers and hot springs. He also established and codified rules for visitors to abide by during their visits and set patrols to monitor the various trails.

His replacement, Capt. Boutelle wrote to Congress to appropriate money in four years later for the establishment of a permanent settlement, but his successor, Capt. Anderson, began the construction the following year.

Lack of Congressional legislation limited Anderson’s ability to punish vandals. In his efforts to curb the behavior, Anderson forced violators to remove their vandalism, often with the aid of a soap and brush.

With the creation of the National Park Service in 1916, the fort passed into their hands where it serves as administrative headquarters for the Yellowstone branch.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student James Steele