The Fascinating Process Of Naming Yellowstone’s Landmarks

Yellowstone National Park has many features known by their names. Today's naming process differs from when it was established as the first national park.

In the early days, when a feature was discovered, the person who found it was the person who named it. Fur traders, explorers, geologists, and park employees were responsible for early names.

For instance, Hayden Valley was named after the geologist and explorer Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden. Hayden led the first major scientific survey and was one of the main people working to establish Yellowstone as a National Park.

Most names that have survived the last 150+ years were given by those who would make maps or have written records that have survived. To get an attraction named today is quite a bit more challenging than just claiming it and adding your name to it.

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Giving a Yellowstone feature a name is done through the United States Board of Geographic Names through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The process of naming or renaming a feature is public, and anyone can submit a request to change or attach a name to a newly discovered feature.

The BGN was established in 1890 and has been in its current form since 1947.

It serves the Federal Government and the public as a central authority to which name problems, name inquiries, name changes, and new name proposals can be directed. In partnership with Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, the BGN provides a conduit through which uniform geographic name usage is applied and current names data are promulgated.

 

There are guidelines in place for the naming process.

• Names that locals use are given priority.
• Names are not considered if they are derogatory from any racial, ethnic, religious, or gender group will be awarded.
• Names of commercial products or a living person are typically accepted.
• Honoring someone dead for more than five years will be considered, but it is not guaranteed because the figure's stature doesn't always age well within society.
• Thermal features are generally not named after a person but after the notable appearances of the surroundings or location of the feature. This unwritten rule became a normal practice around 1870.

If you discover an unnamed feature or feel a feature's name needs to be changed, you can fill out a form that a committee will review.