Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Oxbow Bend:
This hairpin curve of slow-moving backwater from the Snake
River is perfect for novice boaters, wildlife watchers, and photographers looking to
capture the crystalline reflection of Mount Moran (
click here
)
.
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Signal Mountain:
Follow this exciting five-mile drive with expansive views of
the entire valley to catch the sunset (
click here
).
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Jenny Lake:
Resting like a mirror at the base of the Tetons, this alpine lake is a
gem for hikers, boaters, and picnickers (
click here
)
.
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Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point:
The views along this popular and gloriously
scenic hike are worth every step (
click here
)
.
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Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center:
An architectural gem complete
with video rivers running beneath your feet and walls of windows that showcase the
Tetons, this center offers a stunning and innovative introduction to the park (
click
M
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve:
The longtime summer home of the Rocke-
feller family, this lovely preserve exemplifies the family's commitment to steward-
ship (
click here
)
.
The region was sparsely settled and farmed due to the climate and the soil, but it was
used for cattle ranching in the late 1800s. The area was also well known among hunters and
eventually became the setting for a handful of dude ranches.
In 1897, President Grover Cleveland established the Teton Forest Reserve, and the Teton
National Forest was created in 1908. The park itself—96,000 acres in its first incarna-
tion—was set aside by Congress in 1929 and included primarily the mountains and alpine
lakes. There were some attempts through the 1930s to add to the park, none of which were
successful. John D. Rockefeller Jr., however, was quietly purchasing land in the Teton Val-
ley through his Snake River Land Company. Between 1926 and 1946, Rockefeller bought
35,000 acres adjacent to the park, and in 1949 he deeded all but 2,000 acres to the feder-
al government, which had established the 210,000-acre Jackson Hole National Monument
under President Franklin Roosevelt in 1943. In 1950, Congress agreed to merge the monu-
ment and the Rockefeller-donated land with the park, bringing it to its current boundaries.
