Source is from Hiram Martin Chittenden, unless otherwise noted.
(NE corner of park near Baronett Peak)Named in 1885 by
United States Geological Survey. Named for Charles Abiathar White, a paleontologist
with the U.S.G.S.
(range forming eastern border of Yellowstone)Named in
1885 by United States Geological Survey. The name refers to the Indian
name of the Crow Nation. Originally known as the Yellowstone Range, named
after the Yellowstone River of which it is the source. The name "Yellowstone
Range" dates back to 1863, and first explorers called it such. The name
was officially recognized as "Yellowstone Range" in 1871 by both the Corps
of Engineers and the U.S.G.S. The name appeared as such in all writings
of the U.S.G.S. until 1883. In 1873, Captain W.A. Jones, of the Corps of
Engineeers, led the first ever expedition through the range, and renamed
them "Sierra Shoshone." He named them such because it was the Sheepeater
Indians (a branch of the Shoshone) who dwelt in those mountains and in
the park. By 1880, most people called the range "Sierra Shoshone." However,
in 1883, when the U.S.G.S. surveyed, they inexplicably uprooted precedent
and gave the range the name Absaroka. However, only the very northern portion
of the mountains (north of Yellowstone) in any way were Crow Territory.
Over decades of controversy, the name Absaroka, misnamed though it is,
has become the name of common usage.
(southeastern Yellowstone, north of Eagle Peak)Named
in 1885 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for John D. C. Atkins,
Indian Commissioner, 1885-1888.
(northwestern Yellowstone)Named in 1885 by the United
States Geological Survey. Named for the Bannock Indians who moved through
the Park area from there down to the southwestern part of the park. The
Great Bannock Trail ran roughly along the roads that do now from Mammoth
out the Northeast entrance of the park.
(southern Yellowstone near the boundary)Named in 1895
by the United States Geological Survey.Named for Captain (later Colonel)
J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, leader of the military expedition which
came through the park simultaneously with Hayden's Expedition in 1871.
His name was originally placed to the upper course of the Snake River,
but was transferred to this peak.
(northeastern Yellowstone)Named in 1878 by the United
States Geological Survey. Named for C. J. "Yellowstone Jack" Baronett,
a famous scout and guide, of the early history of the Park. (a link to
a short biography of Baronett will be made available as ready).
(northwestern Yellowstone, south of Mammoth Hot Springs)Named
in 1872 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for the famous chemist
and physicist, Robert Wilhelm Bunsen; the inventor of the Bunsen gas burner
and the Bunsen electric cell; co-discoverer with Kirchoff of the principle
of spectrum analysis; and the first thorough investigator of the phenomena
of geyser action.
(eastern Yellowtone, east of the northeast end of Yellowstone
Lake) Named in 1878 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for George
B. Chittenden, a memeber of the U.S.G.S. (not to be confused with Hiram
(north of Yellowstone, outside park, northwest of Gardiner,
MT) Named prior to 1870, apparently according to Hayden, for the color
of its rocks mistakenly thought to be cinnabar which rather is due to iron.
The Devil's Slide, a site also named before 1870, is also on this mountain.
(southeastern Yellowstone, south of Eagle peak)Named
in 1885 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for John Colter,
first United States explorer into the Yellowstone region) (a link to a
short biography of Colter will be made available as ready).
(eastern Yellowstone, due east of Yellowstone Lake)Named
in 1871 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for Lieutenant Gustavus
C. Doane, Second Calvary, U.S. Army, commander of the military escort to
the Washburn Expedition of 1870. Originally, along with Mt. Langford, the
name Mt. Doane applied to a mountain further to the south of where it is
now. Hayden moved the name the following year.(Haines also used as a source.)
(a link to a short biography of Doane will be made available as ready).
(just north of the Canyon area, southwest of Mt. Washburn)Named
in 1878 by the United States Geological Survey."This I have named Dunraven
Peak in honor of the Earl of Dunraven, whose travels and writings have
done so much toward making this region known to our cousins across the
water."--Gannett. Dunraven came to Yellowstone in 1874. In 1876, his book,
Great Divide, described his travels in the West. Colonel Philetus
Norris, second Superintendent of Yellowstone, had named the peak for himself,
but the U.S.G.S. changed the name in 1878.
(Northeast Yellowstone on northern boundary of park)Named
in 1872 by the United States Geological Survey. From the circumstances
described by Henry Gannett, after ascending the mountain with surveying
instruments, July 26, 1872: "A thunder-shower was approaching as we neared
the summit of the mountain. I was above the others of the party, and, when
about fifty feet below the summit, the electric current began to pass through
my body. At first I felt nothing, but heard a crackling noise, similar
to a rapid discharge of sparks from a friction machine. Immediately after,
I began to feel a tingling or prickling sensation in my head and the ends
of my fingers, which, as well as the noise, increased rapidly, until, when
I reached the top, the noise, which had not changed its character, was
deafening, and my hair stood completely on end, while the tingling, pricking
sensation was absolutely painful. Taking off my hat partially relieved
it. I started down again, and met the others twenty-five or thirty feet
below the summit. They were affected similarly, but in a less degree. One
of them attempted to go to the top, but had proceeded but a few feet when
he received quite a severe shock, which felled him as if he had stumbled.
We then returned down the mountain about three hundred feet, and to this
point we still heard and felt the electricity.
(near present day Lake Village on the Northwest end of
Yellowstone Lake)Named by the United States Geological Survey in 1871.
named for the mountain's appearance resembling that of an elephant's back.
Originally, the name "Elephant Back" referred to the ridge of mountains
upon which Mt. Washburn lies, and appears as such on Captain Raynolds'
map of 1860, the Washburn Expedition of 1870, by Captain Barlow in 1871,
and by Captain Jones in 1873. The U.S.G.S., whether by design or accident
(no one knows) moved the name of "Elephant Back" to the lower ridge much
further to the south. As late as 1875, Captain Ludlow was upset that the
change of name had taken place.
(northern Yellowstone, northeast of Mammoth Hot Springs)The
name originated in 1870 with the Washburn Expedition but was subsequently
moved after the 1871 Barlow Expedition. Mt. Everts originally referred
to what now is Mt. Sheridan, as Truman C. Everts along with Hedges (members
of the 1870 Washburn Expedition) were the first known whites to have climbed
the peak. Barlow changed the name of that mountain to Mt. Sheridan, and
the name "Mt. Everts" was moved to an area that Everts was thought to have
been rescued by "Yellowstone Jack" Baronett near Rescue Creek(more on Everts,
and his fantastical journey, will be linked to a short biography when available).
However, according to a letter from Chittenden, the actual mountain where
Everts was rescued was six miles away. (Haines also used as a source.)
(southern Yellowstone, north of Mt. Sheridan)Named by
the United States Geological Survey in 1885. "Factory" had been applied
at various times to different places that seemed to resemble, on frosty
mornings, an active factory town. The name, now fixed, had been applied
to locales as far back as 1829.
(southeast of West Thumb, along Yellowstone Lake)Named
in 1871 by the United States Geological Survey. Name is characteristic
of the Mountain. The peak had been previously named, Yellow Mountain, by
the Washburn Expedition of 1870, from its yellow color.
(north central Yellowstone, northwest of Mt. Washburn)Named
in 1895 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for David E. Folsom,
leader of the Expedition of 1869, and author of the first general description
of the valley of the Upper Yellowstone. (a link to a short biography of
Folsom will be made available as ready).
(outside of park, south of the southwest boundary of
Yellowstone)Named in 1885 by the United States Geological Survey. Named
for the German name for trout.
(range along the northern and western boundaries of the
park)Name in use prior to 1870. For instance, Captain Raynolds uses "Mt.
Gallatin" on his map of 1860. The Gallatin River rises in this range.
(near southern boundary of park, southwest of Barlow
Peak). Named in 1871 by Captain Barlow for General Winfield S. Hancock,
U.S. Army, famous for being a general during the Civil War and for losing
a run at the Presidency against Garfield in 1880. Hancock, as commanding
officer of the Department of the Dakota, lent active aid in the Yellowstone
(north of present day Canyon Village, and southwest of
Mt. Washburn and Dunraven Peak)Named by United States Geological Survey
in 1895. Named for Cornelius Hedges, a member of the Washburn Expedition
of 1870. (a link to a short biography of Hedges will be made available
(northwestern Yellowstone, north of White Peak)Named
in 1878 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for W.F. Holmes,
geologist with the U.S.G.S. The peak had previously been called Mt. Madison.
(eastern Yellowstone next to Avalanche Peak)Named in
1881 by Philetus Norris. Named for John W. Hoyt, then governor of Wyoming.
(southeastern Yellowstone, northwest of Eagle Peak)Named
in 1871 by Captain Barlow. Named for General A. A. Humphreys, then Chief
(just east of the northeast boundary of Yellowstone)Received
its name prior to 1870. Hayden notes about this mountain, and the one next
to it, Pilot Knob (now generally known as Pilot Peak):"One of them derives
its name from its shape, like a closed hand with the index-finger extending
upward, while the other is visible from so great a distance on every side,
that it forms an excellent landmark for the wandering miner, and thus it
appropriate name of Pilot Knob."
(northwest corner of Yellowstone, southwest of Electric
Peak)Named in 1885 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for Chief
Joseph, the famous Nez Perce leader who led his tribe through Yellowstone
in 1877.(a link to a short history on the Nez Perce in Yellowstone will
be made available as ready).
(northern Yellowstone, north of Tower Fall)Named after
1871 by Hayden and the United States Geological Survey. Captain Barlow
in 1871 had originally given the name Square Butte, but the name never
caught on. The name comes from the fact that the butte stands at the junction
of the Yellowstone and Lamar rivers.(Haines, primary source with some Chittenden).
(eastern Yellowstone, northeast of Eagle Peak and Atkins
Peak)Named in 1871 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for Nathaniel
Pitt Langford, prominent member of the Washburn Expedition of 1870, lobbyist
for making Yellowstone the first national park, and first park superintendent.
The name Mt. Langford, as well as Mt. Doane, were originally named by the
Washburn Expedition for mountains further to the south. Hayden, whether
accidentally or purposefully moved the name of the mountains the following
year. Subsequent years of protest by Langford failed to correct the misnaming.(Haines
also used as a source.)(a link to a short biography of Langford will be
made available as ready).
(central Yellowstone)Probably named in 1873 by a tourist
party who went through that area. (See Mary
(in present day Grand Teton National Park, north of the
Grand Teton)Named in 1872 by the United States Geological Survey for the
artist Thomas Moran, whose paintings helped make Yellowstone a national
park.(follow this link for a short biography of Thomas
Moran)(find a gallery of Thomas
Moran's art here.)
(northeasstern Yellowstone, southwest of The Thunderer)Named
in 1878 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for Philetus W. Norris,
second superintendent of the park, and whom Chittenden calls "the most
conspicuous figure in its history." Norris named many features after himself.
One such feature, now called Dunraven Peak, was called "Mt. Norris." The
U.S.G.S. moved that peak's name to its present location in 1878.(a link
to a short biography on Norris will be made available as ready).
known as Pilot Peak)
(just east of the northeast entrance to Yellowstone,
and right next to Index Peak). Name dates before 1870. (see Index
Peak for more on this peak.)
(northern Yellowstone, south of the Obsidian Cliffs)Named
in 1885 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for the "shrill,
penetrating" sound coming from vents coming near its summit.
(eastern Yellowstone, north of Eagle Peak and south of
Atkins Peak)Named in 1885 by the United States Geological Survey. Named
for Carl Schurz, Secretary of the Interior during the Hayes administration.
Then name Schurz was originally given by Philetus Norris to the prominent
ridge on the west side of Gibbon Canyon.
(on northern boundary of park, north of Mammoth Hot Springs)Origin
of the name is unknown. Chittenden cites Professor William H. Holmes about
the mountain's name:"Why this mountain received such a melancholy appellation
I have not been able to discover. So far as I know, the most important
thing buried beneath its dark mass is the secret of its structure. It is
possible that the form suggested the name."
(northern Yellowstone, south of Mammoth Hot Springs)Named
in 1879 by Philetus Norris for the Sheepeater Indian tribe, the only known
aboriginal occupants of what is now the national park. Apparently, Norris
thought that the cliffs were the "ancient and but recently deserted, secluded
unknown haunts" of the Sheepeaters.
(southern Yellowstone, west of Heart Lake)Named in 1871
by Captain Barlow. Named for General Phillip H. Sheridan, famous Civil
War general, significant subduer of the western Indian tribes, and advocate
of Yellowstone National Park. The mountain was originally named "Mt. Everts"
by the Washburn Expedition of 1870. However, Barlow changed the name the
following year.(follow this link to my paper on the founding of Yellowstone
to see what role Phillip Sheridan played in the early history of Yellowstone
National Park: The
Founding of Yellowstone National Park into Law and into Fact).
(eastern Yellowstone, extending from Signal Point)Named
by the United States Geological Survey in 1871. Named after Signal Point
which extends into Yellowstone Lake.
(eastern Yellowstone, west of Mt. Langford)Named by the
United States Geological Survey in 1871. Named for James Stevenson, a member
of the U.S.G.S. and Hayden's top assistant during the 1871 expedition.(a
link to a short biography of James Stevenson will be made available as
(south of the southern boundary of the park, northwest
of Forellen Peak)Named by the United States Geological Survey in 1885.
Named because it was a prominent signaling point for the Indians. Richard
Leigh originally named it Monument Peak, and he built a stone mound on
(largest mountain of present day Grand Teton National
Park, south of Mt. Moran). The name has existed for the mountain since
at least the beginning of the nineteenth century. The origin of the name
refers to the Teton Sioux. Where that name originates is unknown by me.
In 1872, the United States Geological Survey renamed the mountain, Mt.
Hayden. Local use never accepted the new name. And, although the name Mt.
Hayden appeared on some maps for many years (even apparently during Chittenden's
time), the name Grand Teton stuck. Dr. Hayden himself, personally disapproved
of the name Mt. Hayden for the mountain.
Three Rivers Peak
(northwestern Yellowstone, north of Mt. Holmes)Named
in 1885 by the United States Geological Survey. Named because branches
of the Madison, Gallatin, and Gardner Rivers take rise from its slopes.
(northeastern Yellowstone just southwest of the park's
Northeast entrance)Named in 1885 by the United States Geological Survey.
Named because it's seemingly a great focus for thunderstorms.
(north central Yellowstone, northeast of Canyon Village)Named
by the Washburn Expedition of 1870. Named for Henry Dana Washburn, leader
of the Washburn Expedition, who unfortunately died before Yellowstone was
made a national park.(a link to a short biography of Washburn will be made
available as ready).
(southeast of the southeastern boundary of the Park)Named
in 1878 by the United States Geological Survey. Named for an old trapper
and guide of that region. Yount Peak is the source of the Yellowstone River.