Historic Glacier National Park: The Stories Behind One of America's Great Treasures

by Randi Minetor

Historic Glacier National Park captures the most interesting moments in the park’s history, the slices of life in northwestern Montana that provide an idea of what life was like for those who chose to explore this gloriously beautiful snowy corner of the United States. There’s the presence of Native Americans in nearly every aspect of the park’s history, the significant influence of the Great Northern Railway as a leader as the park gained its footing, and people who made history in this astonishing Rocky Mountain landscape. Once Congress decided to make Glacier a national park, developers created hotels, chalets, campgrounds, residences, and the most spectacularly scenic road in the United States. Historic Glacier National Park provides just enough of this rich history to make the experience of visiting the park better than expected.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2016

About the author

Crisscrossing America since 1992 in a quest to see all 50 states (done!), 431 national parks (76 to go), and more than 700 species of birds (623 so far), Randi and Nic Minetor bring their expertise and their love of the wilderness, American history, and birding to readers who share their many passions. A working writer for more than 40 years, Randi is now the author of more than 80 books in print under her own name, and a number of ghostwritten books on a wide variety of topics.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minetor’s book is essentially a collection of essays on how the glacier landscape in Montana came into being, its first visitors—those who came first, not the fur trappers, European and American explorers, U.S. armies, ranchers and developers. The “second nation” people are then covered as well.

Lewis and Clark came through with their Expedition of Discovery and were followed by fur trappers. This would be a good time to mention that Minetor does a very good job with the Native American right to first claim. Anglo names are often on the features now but those people were not the first in this area.

After the arrival of American and European explorers (all covered here) conflict sadly began and the natives lost out very unfairly. The rest of the book has somewhat random chapters discussing the Northern Pacific Railway’s part in opening the park to the public, the introduction of camps and lodging, and then the fabulous story of the building of the Going to the Sun Road beginning in the early 1920s. Nature, Grizzlies, the CCC in the Depression and fire management also manage to find a place.

Fun book for anyone contemplating a visit or for those interested in 20th century tourism, history of NW Montana and all sorts of nature and ecology.

[Julie Richert-Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique approach to telling Glacier's tale: not linear or chronological but focusing on events or persons whose stories weave together as the greater narrative of the history of the park.
If you are trying to get initially familiar with this very special corner of the West, this book may not be your best starting place. But once you know it and love it, these snapshots add a wonderful layer of familiarity with its history.

[Kamisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, flying my nerd flag hard here, but I love national parks and I especially love Montana's national parks! When I saw this new book at the library I knew I needed to reserve it, because I had already read all the guide books to Glacier I could find and I needed something more substantial.

If you're like me and you enjoy national parks and delving into the history of how they were developed, and what has occurred within their boundaries over the years, definitely check it out!

Each chapter is a different snippet of Glacier NP history from the creation of the Going-to-the-Sun road, to an account of the events leading up to the "Night of the Grizzlies," to some of the historic big name people who had a hand in creating the park. Glacier is truly a wild, beautiful and intoxicating place.

[Peghamilton67 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have been to Glacier National Park, or are planning a trip there, or are just interested in in going- this is the book for you! It is filled with compelling stories about the beginning of this amazing national park!!!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little book on Glacier National Park’s history. Enough small stories to hold my interest. It was fun to read and look at the map simultaneously to see where everything occurred. Not an exhausting history by any means, but interesting nonetheless!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Interesting read. Made me more excited about working there!

[Ricardo Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read about several people and events of Glacier National Park.