Treasures from Our West: Rough road to Yellowstone photograph

Originally featured in Points West in Spring 2009

Jack Richard photograph, rough road to Yellowstone National Park, 1955

Sometimes, it’s been downright difficult to get to Yellowstone National Park. On or about July 23, 1955, these two carloads of tourists used a temporary bypass of the flood at Clocktower Creek, about twenty-eight miles west of Cody.

A Wyoming “gully-washer” destroyed the highway and bridge crossing the creek. The Wyoming Department of Transportation worked all through the night to lay large steel culverts into the creek bottom after the flood waters subsided. After that, workers covered the culverts with dirt to build the temporary bypass these vehicles are using.

By the way, even today it’s good practice to check weather and road conditions as you head to Yellowstone! Here’s a good place to check current conditions: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Rough road to Yellowstone photo, 1955. MS 89 Jack Richard Photography Collection, McCracken Research Library. PN.89.11.1847.20

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The McCracken Research Library at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West offers access to thousands of historic images for research and publication. Much digitization takes place thanks in part to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). To learn more, contact the library at 307-578-4063, or visit library.centerofthewest.org.