Women in Wonderland: Lives, Legends, and Legacies of Yellowstone

by Elizabeth A. Watry

Twelve women who made their mark on Yellowstone National Park are described in a highly praised new book, “Women in Wonderland: Lives, Legends, and Legacies of Yellowstone National Park” by Elizabeth (Betsy) Watry.

The women rangers in the book include Marguerite “Peg” Arnold, an intrepid adventurer who drove a Harley Davidson motorcycle from Philadelphia to Yellowstone in 1924 and was the first woman to become a permanent ranger in the National Park Service. Also featured is Dr. Mary Meagher, an expert on Yellowstone’s bison and overall park ecology, who blazed a path for women scientists in the park service. Among the early pioneers in the tourist trade were sisters Anna Trischman Pryor and Belle Trischman with their “Devil’s Kitchenette,” and Ida “Mom” Eagle of the Eagle’s Store in West Yellowstone.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Book Club, Nature

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book about 12 women who lived, worked, and researched in Yellowstone National Park. I visited Yellowstone In 2017, with my parents and my then 8 year old daughter, and bought this book at a bookstore. I read most of it, and then forgot I owned it. I picked it up this evening to finish it, and what a treat! Each of these women worked HARD, Yellowstone is not an “easy” place, but it is so beautiful, and I’m so humbled to know these women’s stories. A great read for any fan of women’s history, Yellowstone, or the great outdoors!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is now on my Top 10 list! A friend bought it on her trip to Yellowstone National Park. The Park is the setting for the tales in this very interesting book. Each chapter told me about 1, sometimes 2 women who ended up living and working Yellowstone during their lifetime. These women were there as the park was being presented to the rest of the United States. They did everything from set up camps in the 1800s to conducting tours of the park for visitors as the Park opened to the public. Not only did they deal with everything that wilderness living can entail many of them were also raising their children.
Each chapter introduces a woman (or 2) and relates their story of life of service to the Park. In my opinion what was scarier than the lifestyle was the discrimination these women faced....right up to the 2970s.
Please read this book and learn about these women and their very interesting lives and contributions to the development of Yellowstone National Park.

[Michelle Burres Veatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very readable history of female rangers and naturalists in Yellowstone. I enjoyed reading it.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is self-explanatory. Each chapter in the book discusses the life and contribution(s) of the women who lived and/or worked in Yellowstone National Park from the days of its pre-park inception to the near present. Some stories were more interesting than others, and this is the kind of book I need to read in small pieces. One theme that came through loud and clear: women faced an enormous amount of discrimination in trying to establish themselves in the male-dominated government bureaucracy despite the efforts of men like Horace Albright who was instrumental in developing the National Park Service. I did find some of the material presented repetitive. I did enjoy the detailed look at daily life in Yellowstone at the turn of the 20th century and the author showed how the the government's view of the park's purpose sometimes clashed with the views of those who actually worked in the parks. It's also a good way to see how the sciences of wildlife management, geology, and ecology changed and developed over the century covered in the book.

[Joyce B. Lohse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lives and struggles of twelve women who lived and worked in Yellowstone National Park during its formative early days are compiled in Women In Wonderland. Each story is presented as a unique biographical chapter with the common thread that each person was passionate about their work, totally enchanted in Yellowtone "Wonderland" as it was often called, and often thwarted as women in a male-dominated work system. They faced their lives and trials with grit, determination, and a sense of humor. The book was splendidly researched in scholarly biographical form. Readability was occasionally bogged down with detailed scientific explanations and minutia regarding bureaucratic obstacles. The topics are an important part of Western history and a record of female pioneers who built a foundation for those who followed in similar work positions. Author Elizabeth A. Watry preserved an interesting and important piece of history that might otherwise be lost or never pieced together. This book is certainly worthy of its gold WILLA Award from Women Writing the West.

[Ginny Gabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book celebrates the tenacity of 12 women from the turn of the century until today who broke the molds of male dominated management, leadership and scientific study connected to the rise of Yellowstone National Park. Their contributions changed the way all national parks are successful today. A must read if you love Yellowstone, love the world of natural science and yearn for equality between the sexes in all manner of life.
I knew nothing of these behind the scene women who make my visit to YNP so meaningful today. Now I look for the steaming geysers they studied, visited the Eagles soda fountain & store and pay more attention to every bison and elk I see making my visit valuable beyond mere entertainment. It’s an historical adventure as well. Thank you to the author for her immense amount of research to give life again to these women!

[Nikki Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun and interesting read for a look into some of Yellowstone National Park’s history from the view points of several women who had large impacts on the park and surrounding areas. It’s inspiring indeed to see how many young ladies fell in love with nature and the magic of Yellowstone over the span of its lifetime by becoming seasonal workers, or growing up there with parents who were employed by the park. So many accomplishments were made, from entrepreneurs, to the study of botany and biology, and chasing that dream of being a full time park ranger for the NPS in a male dominated environment. An enjoyable read for history buffs, to be sure.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would be interesting if the author included a list of potential women for the book and the reasons for the selected featured individuals. Well researched and clear writing. For some of the chapters, the author seems to sugar coat negative subjects. Towards the end the author embraces the concepts that these women’s lives were difficult. Sometimes the author imputed optimism when based on the facts, I doubt that’s how the women felt. Enjoyed it overall as an introduction to many potential offshoot studies into Yellowstone and it’s history.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - very detailed look at the lives and work of women in Yellowstone, including the creative ways they (often at the suggestion of men in positions of power, such as Albright) worked around barriers put in place to keep women out of the Park Service. It recognizes the duality of this - how forward thinking many were and that similarly positioned men would not have had to do the same (e.g., take a position with the title maid or clerk, or take the pay of a lower grade).

A few distracting typos.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book while traveling solo to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. I finally read the book this year. It was very inspiring to see how these various women made there way in the wilderness and carved out a space in a male dominated park. I’m grateful for their stories to be told and for highlighting their valuable contributions to the growth and sustainability of the park.

[Cynthia T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purchased while at Yellowstone in the winter. It's a fun book about adventurous, courageous, independent women who braved animals, the elements and other impediments to explore, live, wor and set up businesses in Yellowstone.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, short biographies of 14 women who helped shape Yellowstone Park. A perfect read while you’re on a trip there as it calls out landmarks and history. Favorite: Beulah Brown Sanborn. (Only detractor: could have used better editing.)

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best written, but an interesting read on women who worked in Yellowstone National Park. Interesting perspective on the discrimination they faced as well as their contributions to the park. Would love to see a similar book regarding a broader representation of women.

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the history of western, pioneering women during the early days of Yellowstone. Not a literary masterpiece (nor a well-proofread piece), but great stories of life in the early formation of the park.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, but didn't love it. However, I am giving it 4 stars because I suspect that the information will stick with me for a while!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

not great writing. interesting stories.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was rather dry. Some stories felt more like an obituary.

[Marnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well put together history, a great read especially while living in Yellowstone

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just because we’re girls, they think we have done something wonderful.
-Marguerite Arnold 1924

Most intriguing story: Anna & Elizabeth Trischman
In 1899, their mother Margaret slashes her own throat and is committed to an asylum. Then she essentially decapitates her son Joseph, and then jumps from the train that is taking her back to the asylum. Dispite all that, the two sisters successfully run a curio shop in Yellowstone for 45 years before retiring to Los Angeles.

Most influential woman: Mary Meagher
“Mary would eventually become the first woman PhD of wildlife biology in the National Park Service and ultimately emerge as a renowned expert on Yellowstone’s most iconic animal, the bison."

The rest of the stories are unexceptional - or are actually about the men in their lives. The only reason these women were included is because they were women, and because there is a written record of their experiences in Yellowstone.

[Michelle Stimpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve biographies of women who lived, worked, learned, taught, studied, explored, mothered, fell in love, battled the elements, fought for equality, fought for conservation, arrested criminals, played, enjoyed, and changed Yellowstone National Park. The author not only gives a detailed of account of each woman's entire life, she also gives a clear depiction of what life was like and what the park was like in the early 1900's. Although this book is primarily about women, I found the stories of the men who knew them interesting, as well. There were a number of men who believed that women had no business working outside the home at all, let alone as storekeepers, scientists, and park rangers in the Yellowstone wilderness, but there were also men who fought for the rights of women to do the work they were educated and trained to do, there were fathers who taught these women to be independent and skilled outdoorswomen, and there were the men that fell in love with these women, who worked, explored, and raised families alongside of them. The author's writing style packs tons of facts into an easy-to-read, enjoyable format.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I did not give this book a five star rating is that the manuscript needed editing before going to print. There were several grammatical errors that I found distracting and frustrating.

That being said, I wish I had this book when I was a young girl interested in the natural sciences in the 1970s. It belongs in our women's studies and in our schools! It will motivate our young people, especially girls, to train in the sciences and to recognize they do have the physical and mental abilities to successfully compete in what is still a male dominated culture of adventure, exploring, research and administration.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book I would have necessarily chosen for myself but a dear friend, vacationing in Yellowstone on my birthday, bought it and presented it to me. I must say I have really enjoyed it immensely. I love the history of the place and the strong, determined women who helped forge such a beautiful place. I have not been to Yellowstone but it's on my list now!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Individual stories of twelve women that reveal the "hidden" history in Yellowstone National Park. Clearly shares the many obstacles of being a women working to succeed in earlier times. A must read before or after your visit!

[Lesley Looper · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting read! I especially enjoyed this book because I worked at Yellowstone one summer in college (mid-80s).