Mammoth in Mammoth Hot Springs in Park County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

At Guard

Photographed by Rich Pfingsten, March 23, 2009

1. At Guard Marker

Inscription. Protecting Yellowstone's wildlife and natural wonders was the primary function of the Army. An important part of this duty was managing the growing visitation to the park and watching for "shady characters."

Park roads were once aligned so that the guardhouse controlled traffic into Yellowstone from the north. Here soldiers contacted each party and entered the name of the driver, passengers, and type of rig into a large ledger. Guns not held at the guardhouse were sealed on the spot. They were checked at each outpost enroute, where soldiers certified on a form that the seal remained intact. Before visitors left the park, the form was scrutinized at an exit station.

Photo Captions
1) Officer's Row (1898)
2) First Administrative Headquarters, Built 1891, Wood-frame construction
3) Guardhouse, Built 1891, Wood-frame construction.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 44° 58.432′ N, 110° 41.953′ W. Marker was in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, in Park County. It was in Mammoth. It was on Unnamed Road 0.2 miles south of North Entrance

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Road and upper Grand Loop Road, on the left when traveling south. Actually located along an unnamed roadway between the upper loop of the Grand Loop Road and Officer's Row, 950 feet south of the intersection of the unnamed road with North Entrance Road. Located in front of the 9th/last building along this road. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Yellowstone National Park WY 82190, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in the Bighorn Basin

and in Greater Yellowstone.

It was also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Guard Duty (a few steps from this marker); Crime in Wonderland (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named A Sense of Community (about 500 feet away); Yellowstone National Park Chapel (about 500 feet away); A Soldier’s Life (about 600 feet away); Life in the Fort (about 600 feet away); The Post Exchange (about 700 feet away); Fort Yellowstone National Historic Landmark (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mammoth Hot Springs.

Other markers no longer nearby. A Most Fortunate Thing... (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); A Sense of Community (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); A Good Duty Station

Photographed by Rich Pfingsten, March 23, 2009

2. Guardhouse

(was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named A Soldier's Life (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed); The Drill Field (was about 700 feet away but has been permanently removed); Welcome to Historic Fort Yellowstone (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. This marker was removed and replaced with a new marker called Guard Duty.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2011, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 697 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on September 11, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 15, 2011, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.