Yellowstone Association History

The Yellowstone Association was originally founded in 1933 as the Yellowstone Library and Museum Association with its original goal being the establishment and development of a research library for Yellowstone National Park.  From this narrow focus, the Yellowstone Association has broadened its role in providing high quality educational materials to park visitors.  Proceeds from the sale of these items and from private donations, as well as from a contributing membership program, are used to fund numerous historic, educational and scientific programs related to Yellowstone Park. Areas of funding have included wayside and visitor center exhibits and films, preservation of historic structures and cultural treasures, printing informational trail guides and park newspapers, as well as scientific research projects, conferences, and publications.  For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Yellowstone Association reported Aid to the National Park Service totaling $3,019,568. Much of this funding was for development of educational exhibits and a film for the Canyon Visitor Education Center. These both focus on the volcanic forces driving the park’s geysers, mudpots, and hot springs and are being made possible, in large part, by a grant of over $1,000,000 provided by the Yellowstone Association. In addition to helping visitors understand how the park’s geologic features function, these exhibits will provide millions of visitors each year with a deeper understanding of why Yellowstone’s unique and precious features must be preserved and protected for future generations.

Since its inception, the cumulative aid provided to the National Park Service by the Yellowstone Association now totals $15.1 million. 

The Yellowstone Association also sponsors the Yellowstone Association Institute.  Founded in 1976, the Institute offers a wide range of classes related to the Yellowstone ecosystem.  These classes, which range from one to five days in length, focus on the park’s abundant wildlife, geothermal features, rich history and expansive wilderness.  Through interaction with the park’s environment, thousands of participants each year experience, understand, and appreciate the natural wonders of the area first hand.  The Institute has developed a reputation as one of the nation’s outstanding wilderness schools, with high standards for instructors and academic credit available for many courses.

The Yellowstone Association is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization governed by a Board of Trustees who serve without remuneration.  The board is comprised of community and professional leaders from across the United States who have a special interest in Yellowstone.  The Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and the Chief of Interpretation (Education) attend all Association board meetings to maintain a high level of coordination between the Association and the National Park Service. 

The Yellowstone Association is one of over 60 national park cooperating associations serving more than 300 areas in the national park system, from Ford’s Theatre to the Grand Canyon.  Each is a separately incorporated not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing educational materials to park visitors and to supporting educational, historic and scientific projects within its park area.