Gardiner in Park County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Serving Visitors Since the Beginning
Gardiner, Montana
— Original entrance to Yellowstone National Park —
Photographed By McGhiever, June 22, 2023
1. Serving Visitors Since the Beginning Marker
Named for fur trapper, Johnson Gardner, Gardiner has had a rough and tumble history to match. The town was established when one of the earliest entrepreneurs in Yellowstone, James C. McCartney, was invited by the park superintendent to remove himself from the park in 1879 (he was officially evicted in 1881). He moved north to the mouth of the Gardner River and started a ranch. By 1880, a post office was established and Gardiner was in the business of supplying the needs of visitors to Yellowstone.
Visited by at least four sitting U.S. presidents, surviving fires, and hosting an influx of seasonal "dudes" for more than 130 years, Gardiner is still a vibrant town with a personality all its own.
A group of Wylie tourists wait for their trip into Yellowstone (1912)
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.
Location. 45° 1.791′ N, 110° 42.386′ W. Marker is in Gardiner, Montana, in Park County. Marker is on West Park Street west of 2nd Street South, on the right when traveling west. The marker is
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Roosevelt Arch (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gardiner Jail (about 700 feet away); A Wildlife Paradise (approx. 0.8 miles away); Yellowstone's Northern Range (approx. 0.8 miles away); Wildlife Migrations (approx. one mile away); Wildlife of the Northern Range (approx. one mile away); Boiling River Trail (approx. 2.7 miles away); Mt. Everts Mudslides (approx. 3.6 miles away in Wyoming). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gardiner.
Photographed By McGhiever, June 22, 2023
2. Serving Visitors Since the Beginning Marker in front of the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce
Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 42 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
