Screenings currently planned:

• Thursday, January 22^nd at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming

• Thursday, April 9^th at the Shane Center in Livingston, Montana

Stay tuned for more screening dates! See the film trailer below. Learn more about the Yellowstone Cougar Project here.

The post Yellowstone Cougar Film Premieres! appeared first on Yellowstone Forever.

Ornaments

Purchase

Trekking Board Game

Purchase

Bison Water Bottle

Purchase

Yellowstone Mugs

Purchase

2026 Wall Calendars

Purchase

Plush Animals

Purchase

Grizzly Canvas Print

Purchase

Junior Ranger Beanie

Purchase

YNP Puzzle Cube

Purchase

Snack Time Chico Bags

Purchase

Bison Blanket

Purchase

Patch Magnet

Purchase

B. Schelling Print 11×14

Purchase

Prismatic Chico Bag

Purchase

Bison Sweatshirt

Purchase

The post Yellowstone Holiday Gift Guide 2025 appeared first on Yellowstone Forever.

Yellowstone National Park remains open and accessible to the public. With financial support from Yellowstone Forever, the Mammoth Hot Springs, Canyon, and Old Faithful Visitor Centers have been able to remain open. This successful partnership ensures visitor assistance remains available, Yellowstone Forever Park Stores in these locations are open, and restroom facilities are accessible.

As the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Forever supports the park by directly funding programs that protect, preserve, and enhance the visitor experience.

How you can help support Yellowstone at this time:

• Make a Donation: Yellowstone Forever will continue to support the park while federal resources are paused, and we rely on your help to make this possible.
• Take an Institute Class: Browse our current catalog and register for programs here.
• Shop our Park Store: Visit Yellowstone.org—proceeds directly support the park.
• Visit Responsibly: Be a good steward by following the seven Leave No Trace Principles and remember to pack out what you bring in, stay on marked trails and boardwalks, and respect wildlife and cultural sites.

As we receive additional guidance, we will continue to update you on our website and through our email newsletters.

With gratitude,

Lisa Diekmann
President & CEO

The post Update from Yellowstone Forever appeared first on Yellowstone Forever.

2026 Yellowstone Forever Calendar

The 2026 Yellowstone Forever Calendar is available for purchase online. It is the perfect holiday gift for any Yellowstone enthusiast in your life (or yourself)!

See the winning images and honorable mentions from last year’s calendar photo competition at https://www.yellowstone.org/calendar-images-2026/.

The post Yellowstone Forever 2027 Calendar Photo Contest appeared first on Yellowstone Forever.

Excerpt from the score for “Yellowstone” by Gene Quaw

When most people think of a library, they imagine shelves lined with books, DVDs, CDs, and periodicals. At the Yellowstone Research Library, however, our collection extends beyond the expected—we also house a small but unique collection of sheet music, all inspired by Yellowstone National Park.

This collection spans piano and vocal works to concert band suites and marches. Most of the music is housed in archival boxes in the main stacks, with one additional box in the Rare Book Room and a number of photocopies filed in our vertical files. While modest in size, this collection captures a fascinating slice of Yellowstone’s cultural history.

One highlight from the collection is the piano and vocal score for “Yellowstone” by Gene Quaw. Born in Bozeman, Montana, Quaw was a band leader who performed with his orchestra at the Canyon Hotel during the 1920s and 30s. His concerts featured a mix of classical standards but always closed with his own composition, “Yellowstone.”

The piece became a familiar sound to hotel guests, and copies of the sheet music were even available for purchase at the Canyon Hotel News Stand. Programs from the era document its popularity, offering a glimpse into the soundtrack of a Yellowstone evening nearly a century ago.

At the same time Quaw’s orchestra was entertaining guests, Yellowstone employees were creating their own musical traditions. Grace Johnson and Donald Midgley, both employees at Canyon Lodge, collaborated on a series of songs performed for lodge guests.

Johnson typically wrote both the music and lyrics, while Midgley handled the arrangements. Together, they produced playful and heartfelt pieces such as “Rotten Logging,” “Off to Yellowstone,” and “Love Began in Yellowstone.” Each of these works, written for piano and voice, reflects the experiences and camaraderie of park staff during the 1920s and 30s.

Excerpt from the score for “Off to Yellowstone” by Grace Johnson and arranged by Donald Midgley

Beyond music created and performed in the park, Yellowstone has inspired countless composers and musicians nationwide. The Research Library has gathered many of these works, including:

• “Yellowstone Suite” for concert band by John Klein

• “Sunset in the Yellowstone: Reverie,” a piano piece by Henry S. Sawyer

• “Yellowstone Trail March” by Karl King, a prolific American bandmaster

Score for the 1st B-flat Clarinet part of “Yellowstone Trail” by Karl King

These pieces demonstrate Yellowstone’s influence as a muse—not just for visitors and employees, but for artists who may never have performed in the park yet felt its grandeur through music.

Curious about what else we have? You can browse our full list of sheet music through the library catalog. All materials are available for in-library use, though items from the Rare Book Collection require advance arrangements.

For more information—or to plan a visit—please contact us at yell_research_library@nps.gov.

The post Music of the Park appeared first on Yellowstone Forever.

1917 Touring Vehicle used in Yellowstone National Park in storage in Yellowstone’s Museum Collection, YELL106383

The vehicle pictured here is a 1917 touring car that was modified into a two-seat general-purpose utility vehicle. Several modifications have been made to this truck; the original body was removed, the chassis shortened, and several parts were cannibalized for use with a 11-passenger open touring bus while being operated by TW Services. One of our staff’s favorite details is the sticker on the windshield that reads “Talking to driver prohibited”.

From December to January 2023-24, our team worked tirelessly to clean the grease, dirt, and dust from the truck. We used a variety of products to carefully clean away excess grime, but not the history of the vehicle.

Starting out, the grille was already disconnected from the vehicle, so it was cleaned separately by one determined staff member. She spent several days working solely on cleaning each individual hole with a small cotton swab and some mineral spirits.

While the grille was being deep cleaned, other staff started cleaning the body of the vehicle with a vacuum and small attachments designed specifically for conservation cleaning. When addressing the dust on the seats and other areas with fabric/vinyl, a mesh mat was used to ensure the integrity of the material while still pulling dust particles. This part of the cleaning process is incredibly important, as these vehicles are comprised of more wood parts than one might imagine, and we were only treating the wood with the vacuums.

Once that was completed, we addressed the metal components. For most of the parts we used a two-step cleaning process; we gently rubbed away dirt and dust with a mixture of vulpex and mineral spirits, followed by a round of just mineral spirits to remove any residue and remaining dirt. The engine hood was removed to allow for internal cleaning of that piece and the engine itself. What the team found was a great deal of grease on the metal which required a different solution.

Engine hood laying open, halfway through cleaning, YELL 106383

We used small brushes, rags, and many rounds of simple green to remove as much grease as possible. This part of the project took several days to complete.

The tire area required a combination of cleaning materials. The rubber parts were scrubbed with a small brush, simple green, and a cloth, the wooden spokes were dusted with rags and gentle brushes, and the connecting metal bits were scrubbed with simple green.

We saved the glass for last, which was quickly cleaned with ethanol and a cloth.

Lastly, as with all vehicles in this project, a newly sewn Tyvek cover was placed on top with a layer of plastic sheet over that to help protect the car.

Thank you to the Jane Learner Fund from Yellowstone Forever for making this project possible.

The post Dust to Glory | Reviving Historic Vehicles Through Careful Cleaning appeared first on Yellowstone Forever.

Co-founded by a former educator and New York Times best-selling children’s author, Susan Verde, and apparel industry veteran Robyn Stotter, Yellowstone Forever’s new corporate partner Enlightened Generation brings together clothing, beautifully bound books, and an opportunity for families to learn and connect. In the Natural Wonders Collection, Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring is featured. The book explores what makes the spring so hot, how its brilliant rings of color are formed, and the surprising role bacteria play in shaping its rainbow-colored hues. We thank Enlightened Generation for donating five percent of each sale to Yellowstone Forever.

“Curiosity is a superpower driving learning and emotional growth. Shared moments of discovery help children develop questioning minds to serve them for life.” Susan Verde

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“He didn’t just talk the talk, he took a deep dive into learning about conservation and then spread that knowledge in an effort to protect the wildlife he cherished.” — Kristen Larsen, daughter of James “Bud” Musgrove

In the summer of 1976, James “Bud” Musgrove found the love of his life at the iconic Fountain Paint Pots in Yellowstone National Park. While road tripping across the U.S., he met Francoise, a backpacker from France. What began as a carefree camping trip quickly bubbled up into love, and soon after, they eloped. They settled in Montana, where they raised two daughters, Kristen and Claudine. Their union marked the beginning of a family deeply intertwined with the wilderness of Yellowstone.

Bud’s commitment to wildlife, especially grizzly bears and bison, grew throughout his life. As his daughters went off to college, he became actively involved in bison and grizzly bear conservation, attending seminars, workshops, and collaborating with biologists. He became a leading voice for their protection, emerging as a strong advocate for these iconic creatures. His commitment was more than just a hobby—it was a lifelong mission. In the early ‘90s, James contributed to groundbreaking research on bear survival, solidifying his legacy as a tireless protector of Yellowstone’s wildlife.

Upon Bud’s passing in 2002, his loved ones worked with Yellowstone Forever to set a fitting tribute, honoring his lifetime of work protecting and preserving these remarkable animals. A bear-proof food storage box was installed at Mammoth Campground in his name where his family regularly visits, reflecting on his enduring influence.

Kristen, Claudine and Francoise continue Bud’s work, spreading his message of conservation and commitment to preserving Yellowstone’s wildlife. Today, they remain dedicated to ensuring that his advocacy for grizzly bears, wolves, and wilderness preservation endures for generations to come. His passion for protecting the earth and its creatures continues to inspire all who knew him.

By donating a bear box in Bud’s honor, the Musgrove’s are helping to ensure the preservation of Yellowstone’s ecosystem for future generations. Together, we can safeguard these incredible creatures—and the memories that make this place unforgettable.

Images from top to bottom:

1. James Musgrove
2. Grandchildren of James and Francoise at campsite in Mammoth Hot Springs campground with James’s bear box
3. All bear boxes come with an engraved plaque with text provided by sponsors

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