I knew that Yellowstone National Park had a global reputation as the world’s first national park – kicking off a truly international movement over the past century and a half that began with its creation in 1872, signed into law by none other than Civil War hero and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.  As of 2023, there were 6,555 national parks on Earth, and Yellowstone was the very first.  

I also knew that Yellowstone enjoys international fame for its iconic large mammals – e.g., wolves, grizzly and black bears, bison, elk, moose, pronghorn – as well as its majestic scenery, protected wilderness areas, geothermal wonders (such as the Old Faithful geyser), wild rivers, lakes and their endemic trout populations.  

Thus, I should not have been surprised in my recent site visit to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem at how many foreigners I saw reveling in the wonders of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. At the diverse foreign languages I heard. Yet I was still a bit taken back…and not a little pleased that America’s “best idea” – to quote Western writer Wallace Stegner and documentary filmmaker Ken Burns – is appreciated by so many peoples from around the world.  Yellowstone and Grand Teton are, in a sense, America’s gift to world citizens.