The city of West Yellowstone in Montana is one of the gateways to Yellowstone National Park. Lots of people spend the night in town on the way to the park. Naturally, visitors focus on getting to Old Faithful or the many other natural wonders in the park.

But, the city has a colorful history, which was and always will be intertwined with the park. Explore the city by visiting the Yellowstone Museum. The city of West Yellowstone is elevated, 6,660 feet above sea level, with a population of 1,016 in 2018.

But during tourist season, you would guess there are thousands and thousands with all the vacationers coming through town on their way to Yellowstone National Park. The museum, open from May to October, attracts 20,000 visitors a year.

Yellowstone, the country’s first national park, was established on March 1, 1872. At the time, the only way to get there was by horse or horse-drawn wagon, and there was no city within. the western border.

The Union Pacific Railroad was inspired by “build and they will come” to extend their rail line from Salt Lake to Idaho and, in 1907, added a spur to the edge of the park.

A terminal depot was built, which allowed tourists to disembark the train from one side and from the other side to board a means of transport that would take them to the park. The site was rebuilt in 1909 with a larger train depot, which now houses the museum.

There was no city, but with the arrival of tourists, there was a need for services. Strong entrepreneurs and the railroad established businesses near the terminus. The city has had successive names: Boundary, Terminus, Riverside, Yellowstone and finally West Yellowstone.

The museum has exhibits and photos detailing the evolution of transport in the park. Two well-maintained wooden horse-drawn supply cars represent how food and other supplies from the trains arrived at tourist facilities at Old Faithful Inn and other areas.

Stage coaches and other smaller cars were used to move tourists. Signs offering the rental of coats and “dusters” imply that the trip could be rough, cold and very dusty.

In the 1920s, a radical change in transportation occurred when automobiles began to arrive. A 1915 Ford Model T touring car represents an introduction of gasoline-powered vehicles. Later, yellow tour buses were used. With more and more tourists arriving by car, the Union Pacific ended passenger service to West Yellowstone in 1960.

Winter creates totally new transport problems in the park. In the beginning, winter travel was limited to skis or snowshoes. Even today the roads are not cleared of snow except near Mammoth Hot Springs.

Snow vehicles were developed, improved, and ultimately approved by the National Park Service. A vehicle with skis in the front and tracks in the rear called the Bombardier was used. It looked like a small tank with skis in the front and held seven people. Now a snow coach with tracks on each wheel which can be swapped out for tires in summer is used.

Finally, snowmobiles were introduced. Manufactured by the Bombardier Co. in the 1940s, they were first called ski dogs. The name was quickly changed to Ski-Doo and over the years they took over the park. The park department was alarmed at the number of snowmobiles, noise and pollution from exhaust gases from so many machines.

A plan to eliminate all snowmobile travel has been proposed, but gateway cities have spoken out against the policy. A compromise was made in 2000 where new, less polluting four-stroke machines would be used and snowmobiles entering the park would have to be accompanied by a sales guide.

The museum also describes the notable history that occurred near the city. In 1959, a major earthquake shook the region. Twenty miles northwest, a landslide blanketed a campground and blocked the Madison River. Twenty-eight lives have been lost and the thermal characteristics of the park have changed. The fires of 1988 that lit up the park and its surroundings received national attention. These natural disasters can be relived on video.

There is still more to the story here that is hidden in plain sight. Most visitors make their way to the train station and continue without realizing that there is a historic Union Pacific Railroad district three blocks away. There are several impressive buildings and walking tours are offered. They were built in stages after the depot was built by the railway company in the 1920s.

Passengers arriving by train were offered a meal at the beanery. At that time, a hosiery offered inexpensive seated food. The service became extremely popular, and Union Pacific hired an architect to design a large dining room. He used local wood and rock.

The building is massive and beautiful, with a stone fireplace that covers the entire front wall. The ceiling is supported by beams similar in design to structures in national parks. It’s huge, with room for hundreds of visitors to eat. Now the dining room is used locally for weddings and conventions.

The railroad hired young women from the rear east to work as maids and other duties. They were called Beanery Queens, and the jobs were in high demand. They also sang for the passengers as they got off the train. They worked the whole summer season.

West Yellowstone exists today because of its proximity to the national park. More tourists pass through this city than any other gateway. There is a symbiotic relationship between West Yellowstone and the national park. They depend on each other, and their history shows it.