Black History
Canyon Hotel Colored Waiters and river, YNP.
Montana Historical Society Library and Archives, H-04873
Mammoth Hotel colored waiters and porters.
Montana Historical Society Library and Archives, H-04847
About
Black history in Yellowstone is a largely underexplored aspect of the park’s history. Traditional record keeping practices tend to limit the people represented in the historical record, which means that people of color are often left out of historical accounts despite evidence that suggests that Black people worked and lived in Yellowstone almost since its inception. Existing accounts of Black employees and visitors are often written with racist biases that cloud our ability to understand the lived experience of Black folks in Yellowstone. That being said, we have a few historical accounts of Black employees and visitors in early Yellowstone that suggest Black people were integral to Yellowstone operations and tourism efforts.
Early census records reveal that few Black Americans lived in the Yellowstone region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1880, the Wyoming and Montana Territories reported under 700 Black citizens residing in their borders, with only 31 living in close proximity to the park. In 1900, Yellowstone was given its own designation in the census and reported 1 Black person living within the park and 50 in surrounding counties. 1910 census records report 4 Black people living in the park and 70 just outside of it (Whittlesey).
While these census records provide useful numerical data, the collections at the Montana Historical Society contain photographs of Black employees at Canyon and Mammoth hotels that allow us to see the faces and lived-experiences of Black folks that often get lost in Yellowstone history.
Resources and records relating to Black history in Yellowstone are few and far between, but the books in the Yellowstone Research Library collection contain nuanced and underexplored histories of Black lives in Yellowstone, namely the famous Buffalo Soldiers, explorers like Crow chief Jim Beckwourth and York of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and Black pioneers of the American West.
Helpful Links
- Yellowstone, The American Blackstory
- Black Labor, Native Land | The Real Wild West, Curiosity Stream [video]
- Ranger Shelton Johnson Speaks about African American History Month 2021, Yosemite National Park [video]
Library Resources
Library of Congress Subject Headings
African American pioneers -- West (U.S.) -- History -- Pictorial works
African American trappers -- West (U.S.) -- Biography
United States. -- Army -- African American troops -- History -- 19th century
United States. -- Army. -- Infantry Regiment, 25th. -- Bicycle Corps
Ask a Question
Submit questions to yell_research_library@nps.gov. You can alternatively call the library at (307)344-2264, or visit us in person.
