Frontier settlers throughout history made a difference toward building development and life itself. Wyoming’s Grand Teton benefited by certain visionaries.
J. Pierce Cunningham was a rancher who became a conservationist. He settled in Jackson Hole in the 1880s despite the winter hardship. He originally opposed the expansion of Grand Teton National Park but later became an advocate.
Cunningham teamed with his neighbor, Josiah “Si” Ferrin to write a petition signed by 97 valley ranchers who agreed to sell their land to form a “national recreation area.” John D. Rockefeller, Jr’s Snake River Land Company bought Cunningham’s land and other ranches. Rockefeller later donated more than 33,000 acres to expand the national park.
Examples of conservation and preservation of the national recreation area.
Now we can observe and preserve the beauty of the Grand Teton National Park.
Blessings along the Way!
Ron
Much of our country’s conservation of public lands and establishment of national parks goes back to voices such as John Muir and leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt. Philanthropists such as John D. Rockefeller and others also contributed on their own ways.
I found these ranchers in Wyoming to be amazing and united in their cause to set aside land for future generations to witness and enjoy.
True. People who saw the greater good and gave unselfishly. I’m thankful. Thank you for the wonderful insight. 🙂
did they have pictures of how it looked in another time.. when the ranchers actually worked the area?
I saw one plaque with a tiny photo but it wouldn’t enlarge with sufficient detail. I’m sure there are some photos somewhere around there. I’ll need to research a little more. Thanks. 🙂
Cunningham is an Irish name!
It’s amazing the influence from those around the world. That’s part of what is so great about the U.S. – people from all over the world contribute – just like the French who named the Grand Teton range too. Thanks. 🙂
Hopefully America will continue to benefit that way.
I agree. Thanks. 🙂
Our nephew and his wife were wed in Grand Teton national park. Was our first experience there and we were impressed. My son climbed one of the Tetons.
Thanks for sharing. I can see how the setting would be wonderful for a wedding. I imagine it’s a challenge to climb them. I didn’t have that aspiration. 🙂
Neither do I