Thomas Moran was a member of the 1871 Hayden Survey and was very instrumental in Yellowstone becoming the worlds first national park. He made sketches during the expedition and painted afterwards using his work and William Henry Jackson’s photographs as references.
His Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone painting was purchased by Congress for $10,000 in 1872. The painting is now on display in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Yellowstone National Park was established on March 1st, 1872 as the first national park in the world.
