Grand Teton National Park

 

Created on this day in 1929.

The mountain range was named by French-Canadian fur trappers, meaning "big breasts."

The valley at its base, Jackson Hole, was settled in 1887, ideal for grazing cattle.  Ranches drew tourism, eastern "tenderfoots" who wanted a taste of the Old West, and the growing numbers led to concerns about preserving the natural beauty of the region.

In 1916, Horace Albright, director of the National Park Service, suggested incorporating the land into Yellowstone National Park.  The ranchers and business owners disagreed, and when the park was established, it excluded Jackson Hole, encompassing only the mountains and a narrow strip at the base.

Albright persuaded John Rockefeller to buy up land in the Jackson Hole area for possible future incorporation.  This angered the landowners more, complaining of "eastern money interests" dictating the future of the west.

In 1949, Rockefeller donated his land to the federal government, and now Jackson Hole is part of the national park.

Snow King Mountain is a ski resort, but also home to the Jackson Hole Hill Climb, a snowmobiling event that Hubby has always wished to do.