William Henry Jackson (1843–1942) was a pivotal American photographer, painter, and explorer whose breathtaking images of the American West were instrumental in the creation of the world’s first national park: Yellowstone. His work, characterized by its dramatic scale and detail, transformed perceived “tall tales” of the wilderness into undeniable visual facts, shaping public and political opinion on conservation.
Jackson’s most significant period began in 1870 when he was appointed the official photographer for the U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, led by Ferdinand V. Hayden .
Convincing Congress: In 1872, his photographs, alongside the paintings of fellow expedition member Thomas Moran, were exhibited in the U.S. Capitol (Source 1.4). The visual proof of Yellowstone’s unique natural wonders was a major factor in convincing Congress to pass the bill that established Yellowstone National Park in March 1872 .
Yellowstone Expedition (1871): This was the expedition that cemented his legacy. Hauling heavy, cumbersome cameras and fragile glass plates through rugged terrain, Jackson captured the first conclusive photographs of Yellowstone’s geysers, hot springs, and canyons.
