The National Park Service subtly employs a colonial ideology in managing history, ecological conservation, and public perception, marginalizing Native American histories, notably observed in wayside signs in Yellowstone Park. Waysides reveal that its memoryscape—how the landscape is imbued with cultural and historical meanings shaped by collective memory—is shaped by intricate historical narratives that downplay the Native American presence while promoting the Euromerican notion of “wilderness” through interpretive signage. This unbalanced portrayal not only impedes the recognition of diverse historical and cultural perspectives but also hinders a comprehensive understanding and presentation of the park’s natural environment and the historical role of Native Americans in its ecology. Adding a balanced memoryscape that includes Native American histories is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and accurate representation of the past and the park’s ecology.
Silent Echoes: History, Ecology, and Yellowstone Park’s Colonial Memoryscape Through a Critical Examination of Wayside Signs Available to Purchase
Thomas C. Rust, a history professor at Montana State University Billings, has nearly two decades of teaching and research experience. Known for his prolific publications on diverse historical topics, his article “An ‘Undesirable Station’: The U.S. Army at Fort Yellowstone and the Creation of the National Park Service Program” was a finalist for the Army Historical Foundation’s Distinguished Writing Awards. Rust’s collaboration with the National Park Service and the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation led to the discovery of the third known campsite on the trail. By involving students in this excavation through a service-learning initiative, he provided invaluable hands-on experience. His dedication to teaching, service, and scholarship has earned him numerous accolades, including the Eugene T. Carroll Historic Preservation Award in 2021 and the Trail Stewardship Award in 2013.
Thomas C. Rust; Silent Echoes: History, Ecology, and Yellowstone Park’s Colonial Memoryscape Through a Critical Examination of Wayside Signs. The Public Historian 1 May 2025; 47 (2): 7–47. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/tph.2025.47.2.7
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