INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA 125-48 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 1997
Despite the grim war news from Europe, more than 580,000 visitors came to Yellowstone National Park during the summer of 1941. Following the December 7th bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's entry into the war on December 8th, life in America changed, especially with regard to leisure travel.
The 1942 Yellowstone tourist season was difficult for a number of reasons. Many National Park Service employees joined the military making it necessary to cut back on services for the public. Likewise, the concessioners had a hard time finding employees to fill positions as many of their former and potential workers had also joined the military or had taken better-paying war-related jobs in industry. Many locals found employment at a newly constructed relocation camp established at Heart Mountain (between Powell and Cody), Wyoming. Consequently, most facilities in the park remained closed; only the cabins and cafeterias at Old Faithful and Fishing Bridge were operational. Nationally, tire, car, and fuel rationing were imposed, which meant Americans curtailed driving their vehicles, except when necessary. Air travel into the West Yellowstone airport was terminated, and bus and train travel were restricted. While park buses continued to travel on regularly scheduled routes within the park, side trips for sightseeing were prohibited. Visitation dropped to about 192,000 people for the year.
People across the nation joined together in support of the war effort. In a move to save fuel by taking advantage of daylight hours, in February, "all clocks and time pieces in the park were advanced one hour, placing the park on Mountain War Time." Yellowstone also participated in a practice blackout exercise involving nine western states on December 14 between 9:00 and 9:20 p.m.
In 1943, things were worse. Employees were even harder to find, and no lodges, cafeterias, or buses operated in the park. Some food was available at the Hamilton Stores that remained opened at Old Faithful and Fishing Bridge. There were no naturalist activities, and the duties of National Park Service rangers were limited to protection of people and resources and custodial maintenance. Visitation plummeted to 64,000 people for the year. Programs to support the war effort continued in Yellowstone as around the country. A scrap metal drive took place in the park in September and October, which generated about 220 tons of metal; Yellowstone Park Company contributed an additional 130 tons of material.
Finally, the war was drawing to a close. On May 2, 1945, Ranger Aubrey Haines, the first Yellowstone National Park employee to go off to war, returned. By June, all but one of the park's permanent employees had returned (he returned later when his military obligation was satisfied). While almost a third of the park's permanent staff served in the Armed Forces, there were no casualties among the staff, and no one received a serious injury. Each park employee returned to his former position, which had been retained for him.
By 1946, all travel restrictions in the nation had been lifted, and, after the long years of the war, Americans were anxious to get back on the road and see their national parks. Park visitation soared to about 814,000 that year. But, the park was not totally ready to receive that level of visitation. Bringing the park back "on line" would require time and hard work. Nearly 70 pieces of automotive and heavy equipment had gone to the war effort, and their return was a slow process. Repairing or correcting public hazards and water and sewer systems were top priorities for the Park Service, other maintenance needs would have to wait. The concessioner was able to get only about 75 percent of the park lodging and dining facilities operational, and many of those buildings were in disrepair. But, National Park Service permanent staffing levels returned to pre-war status (117 people), and 26 seasonal naturalists were hired for the summer. Visitor centers and naturalist programs were available, and the public took advantage of the services. Yellowstone National Park, "the best idea America ever had," was theirs again to experience.