National Parks Today
Want more information on the park Mary Gibson Scott oversees? Grand Teton’s website -- http://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm -- is a one-stop shop for park history, activities, maps, resources, and events.
If you know it’s park history you want, we’ll save you some clicking. You can go directly to http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/history.pdf for history of the land that became the park; if you’re looking for details about the creation of the park go to http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/creation.pdf
Grand Teton National Park publishes its newspaper, Teewinot, four times a year. Download the current as well as past issues at: http://www.nps.gov/grte/parknews/newspaper.htm
First published in 1960 by the Grand Teton Natural History Association in cooperation with the National Park Service, Campfire Tales of Jackson Hole was recently reprinted and is available at most bookstores in Jackson as well as online at http://www.grandtetonpark.org/product_p/10597.htm. Even though all the tales might not have been strictly fact checked, it is a great, easy read.
Two ranger-naturalists teamed up on A Guide to Exploring Grand Teton National Park. The result? A book that is equal parts eye candy and reference. Over 75 photographs are interspersed among dozens of maps, illustrations of wildlife, and guides to scenic drives and hikes. The authors even suggest family activities. If you can’t find A Guide to Exploring Grand Teton in a Jackson bookstore, get it through the Grand Teton Association at http://www.grandtetonpark.org/product_p/10273.htm.
Not focused on Grand Teton National Park, or even the National Park Service, is the wonderful Wyoming Curiosities. Even if I didn’t write if myself, I’d recommend this book if you want to learn about the lighter sides of Wyoming’s two national parks (as well as the rest of the state). Do you know the story of the first person to ski from the summit of the Grand Teton? Or where the name “Teton” came from? And you wouldn’t believe some of the things rangers have pulled out of Yellowstone’s geysers and pools. Underwear? Yup. A frying pan? Yup. Even a cake mold. Several bookstores throughout the state (although, in my opinion, not enough) carry Wyoming Curiosities; it’s also available on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Wyoming-Curiosities-Characters-Roadside-Oddities/dp/0762743654.
