How Yellowstone Became the First National Park

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1. 01How Yellowstone Became the First National Park

   Good afternoon, everyone. Last summer, I watched a geyser shoot hot water into the sky in Yellowstone. Standing there, I wondered: who decided that this land should belong to everyone? Today, I'll explain how the idea of a national park began.

   大家下午好。去年夏天，我在黄石看到一个间歇泉把热水喷向天空。站在那里，我不禁想：是谁决定这片土地应该属于所有人的？今天，我来讲一讲国家公园这个想法是怎样开始的。

2. 02A Land of Wonders

   Yellowstone is famous for its geysers, colorful hot springs, and wild animals like bison and bears. Even today, descriptions of boiling mud and exploding water sound almost unbelievable.

   黄石以间歇泉、五颜六色的温泉，还有野牛、熊等野生动物而闻名。即使在今天，那些关于沸腾的泥浆和喷涌的热水的描述，听起来仍然让人难以置信。

3. 03March 1, 1872

   On March first, eighteen seventy-two, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the law that created Yellowstone National Park. It is known as the first national park.

   1872年3月1日，尤利西斯·S·格兰特总统签署了设立黄石国家公园的法律。它被称为世界上第一个国家公园。

   Source: U.S. National Park Service, "Grant and Yellowstone"

4. 04A Revolutionary Idea

   What made it revolutionary was the purpose. The law set the land aside as a public park "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." In other words, beautiful nature would not belong only to the rich or be sold for profit.

   它的革命性在于目的。这部法律把这片土地划为公共公园，“供人民享用和娱乐”。换句话说，美丽的大自然不再只属于富人，也不会为了牟利而被卖掉。

   Source: U.S. National Park Service, "Grant and Yellowstone"

5. 05Not the Whole Story

   But we should tell the whole story. According to the National Park Service, people have spent time in the Yellowstone region for more than eleven thousand years, and twenty-seven tribes have connections to the park. Their history is part of Yellowstone, too.

   不过，我们应该把故事讲完整。据美国国家公园管理局介绍，人们在黄石地区活动已经有一万一千多年了，有二十七个部落与这座公园有渊源。他们的历史也是黄石的一部分。

   Source: U.S. National Park Service, Yellowstone "Associated Tribes" and "Park History"

6. 06From One Park to Hundreds

   From that one park, the idea grew. Today, the U.S. National Park Service manages more than four hundred sites, including sixty-three national parks, and many countries around the world have created their own.

   从这一座公园开始，这个理念不断发展。如今，美国国家公园管理局管理着四百多处地点，其中包括六十三座国家公园，世界上很多国家也建立了自己的国家公园。

   Source: U.S. National Park Service, "National Park System"

7. 07What It Means for Travelers

   For us as visitors, the idea of "for the people" comes with responsibility. Stay on the trails, keep a safe distance from wild animals, and leave nothing behind, so the next visitors can enjoy it too.

   对我们游客来说，“为了人民”这个理念也伴随着责任。请走在步道上，和野生动物保持安全距离，不留下任何东西，让之后的游客也能享受这里。

8. 08Conclusion

   To sum up, in 1872 a simple but powerful idea was born: some places are too special to belong to anyone, so they should belong to everyone. Next time you visit a national park, remember that idea. Thank you.

   总之，1872年诞生了一个简单而有力的想法：有些地方太特别了，不应该属于任何个人，所以应该属于所有人。下次你们去国家公园的时候，请记住这个想法。谢谢大家。

   Source: U.S. National Park Service, "Grant and Yellowstone"