Glacier Park 1925

A Souvenir Folder

Glacier National Park

on the Great Northern Railway

- Postmarked May 22, 1925 -

Thanks for stopping by. Take a moment from your busy summer to enjoy a look at Glacier National Park. Record heat has been the issue in Seattle lately and that set me looking through my collection to find something that might put some cooler thoughts in mind. Glacier Park seems to hit the spot. I wonder if the original recipient of this little folder, in 1925, made it to the Park in that year. We'll never know who that was, as it turns out, since someone, somewhere, along the line, decided to erase the addressee. Irregardless, I can say this:  The 2-cent postage was a deal!

Here are the images, which were also published individually as postcards ...

Trick Falls, on Two Medicine River

Click on the images to view a larger version.  Please feel free to download the images for your personal use. The copyright on all these images has expired and the images are now in the Public Domain.

Ice Berg Lake

Maybe you are wondering if Ice Berg is correct, or should it be Iceberg? I thought this would be a good opportunity to ask AI (Artificial Intelligence).  Here is the way that went ...

Me: Was it ever proper to write the word "iceberg" as two words "ice berg"?

AI: No, it has never been standard practice to write the word "iceberg" as two separate words ("ice berg"). The term "iceberg," referring to a large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier or ice sheet and carried out to sea, has consistently been written as a single word since it entered the English language in the early 19th century. The word originates from the Dutch word "ijsberg," which is also written as a single word.

Of course, AI is only as smart as what it has been taught. (True for humans, as well. 😊) I did a little research on my own and could not find this postcard on Google. However, I found plenty of others with the spelling “Iceberg”.  So, my guess is, the one who produced this postcard took a little “artistic liberty.”

Josephine Lake

I especially like the reflections in the card above and one below.

Two Medicine Lake

McDermott and Josephine Lakes

Many Glacier Hotel
Known today as Glacier Park Lodge.

St. Mary's Lake from Baring Creek

Forest Lobby, Glacier Park Hotel

When you see images, like the one above, of the hotel lobby, as it appeared about 100 years ago, you may wonder what it looks like today ... if it's still there. Well, it is still there, and it is now called Glacier Park Lodge lobby. Thanks to Wikipedia and the Internet we can see a 2010 image ...

"Forest Lobby" via Wikipedia
Image by Acroterion

If you download the 2010 image (using the Acroterion link above) and zoom in, there's lots of detail to enjoy. I can see that the dining room, at the end of the lobby, is still called the Great Northern.

Belton Chalets, Western Entrance to Park

1. Chief White Antelope
2. Chief Three Bears
3. Chief Gambler
4. Chief Medicine Owl
5. Chief Lazy Boy
6. Chief Two Guns White Calf
7. Chief Fish Wolf Robe

Lastly, the 7 Chiefs ... Since I am one who loves trains, and a fan of railroad history, I would like to think that the images of Native Americans were included as a way to honor them. However, some research revealed images often depicted Native Americans to evoke a sense of adventure and the exotic. This romanticized view of the West was intended to attract settlers, tourists, and investors by portraying the region as a land of opportunity and excitement.

Things at John's Island have been busy and I haven't put much time on the blog. I decided that the USA Birthday cake had been up long enough, so I hope you enjoy this post.

For all of you out there in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you're having a good summer. (And those in the Southern, winter 😊) Thanks for stopping by.

Gateway - 1903

Gateway to Yellowstone

 Story of the Arch

(Mostly told with Postcards)

Very early card showing one way to tour the Park ...
horse-drawn carriage.
[Click on images for enlarged view!]

The stagecoach was the most common way
to tour in the early days.

Most tourists arrived via train. The depot was just outside the
lava rock entrance. The Northern Pacific Railroad served this station.

This card shows a train stopped at the station.
The cards are about evenly split on showing a train or not.
As a "railfan" I appreciate the ones WITH trains more!

Different and unusual style
for an early postcard.

This station was famous for its western theme.
Especially the logs holding up the roof covering the platform.

In some years there was a pond
between the depot and the arch.

The pond looks well manicured in this view.

Photographers tried to get creative
shooting right above the pond.

Reflection of the arch in the pond.

Good early view - front of the arch.
Words above the archway:
"For the benefit and enjoyment of the people."

In this view a carriage has just 
passed under the arch heading
into the Park.
Sender of the card dated it June 24, 1905
About 2 years after dedication.

Color applied to black and white photo.

Love horses? Yes, we do too, 

and other critters as well, 

so we're linking up with

Saturday's Critters.  

"Wylie" Coaches entering the Park
Wylie Camping Co would take you for the full tour
including overnights in their camps.

Back of the Wylie card.
Note: Knights of Columbus from San Francisco probably used
this card to enlist members to attend the "Pilgrimage"
to Yellowstone July 6 to 20, 1912
Postage:
1 cent domestic
2 cents foreign 

The first automobile entered the Park in 1915.
This card does not reveal a publication date.

Pretty nice car and I have to wonder
if it was artistically added to the image?
 (Same for the card above.)

This card is called a "real photo" card because
it is an individual photograph with printing
on the back for postal delivery.

A rare photo showing
a fence inside the arch.

(Colorful but artistically modified.)
Note Mother's comments ...
The "other end" may be the South entrance
which connects to Teton National Park.

Unusual card showing guard house just inside the gate.
The guard house is no longer there and it existed only for
a short time.

A more modern postcard view.

A more modern "real photo" card.
(That is, if we can call 2nd half
of last century "modern".)

Probably the "most recent" published
card among all those
in this post.

Artistry at work.
Gustav Krollmann was the artist for this card and
the one below. He titled this card,
Gardiner Gateway to Yellowstone Park
(There are 6 Gateways)

Lots of "artistic license"
in this view.

The rare aerial view.
Yes, the arch is in there ...
near right edge about 1/3rd
way up from bottom.

President Theodore Roosevelt standing on the partially
constructed arch for the dedication ceremony and laying of
the cornerstone on April 24, 1903.
(Not a postcard, but a stereoview. I haven't found a
postcard showing this scene, but it may exist.)

My photo of the Cornerstone

My photo of the arch from a trip several years ago.

Another of my photos -- a different trip.
This view is looking toward
Shooting Star Mountain.

When I put together my love for Yellowstone National Park and my hobby of collecting vintage postcards I became fascinated with the number and variety of postcards featuring the Roosevelt Entrance Arch. This may seem peculiar since Yellowstone is all about natural wonders and the Arch is a human construction. However, the Arch has become the symbol of the Park and that spurred my interest. Yellowstone Park was created by an Act of Congress in 1872, but the Arch was not constructed until 1903. On April 24, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated the arch as its cornerstone was laid. My collection of arch cards totals over 100, each with some difference.

Thanks for stopping by.

Picturesque Scenery - 1910

Souvenir Folder - Picturesque Scenery

Souvenir Folder
Picturesque Scenery along the line of
Great Northern Railroad,
Montana, Idaho, and Washington
(Mailed from The Top of The Cascade Mountains)

Back of the Folder with space for return address.
(Unidentified location but possibly Hell Gate Canyon
near Missoula, Montana.)

Bad Lands near Montana Dakota Line

A Montana Grain Field

Lake McDermott and Mt Wilbur
from "Many Glacier" Hotel
Glacier National Park

Mallett Compound Engine

A Group of Blackfeet Indians*

The Narrows, Flathead Lake, Montana

The Lakes in the Clouds
Rocky Mountains

Great Northern Bridge over
Pend O'Reille River

Great Northern Trestle over Lower Falls,
Spokane River, Washington

Mt. Rainier, Washington

Seattle, Puget Sound and
the Olympic Mountains
(Photo by Asahel Curtis)

Loop on the Great Northern Railroad,
near "Scenic," Washington

Freight train coming out of the Horseshoe Tunnel,
Near Scenic on the Great Northern R. R. Wash

Electric Locomotive pulling The Oriental Limited,
Emerging from Cascade Tunnel on
Great Northern Railway

Great Northern Train entering
Horse Shoe Tunnel, Washington

Lake Wenatchee, Washington

An Avenue of Apple Blossoms, Wenatchee, Wash.
(Copyright 1910 by Kiser Photo Co. for
Great Northern Railway.)

The folder includes 18 views in a style similar to postcards. It was published around 1910 for the Great Northern Railway to encourage travelers to travel by train. The folders were available in train stations and in stores frequented by travelers. The folders could be purchased and kept as a souvenir of a trip taken, or mailed to friends and family. In 1910 this folder was postmarked "Mailed from the Top of the Cascade Mountains, Cascade Tunnel, Elevation 3373 ft., Wash." The postmark was probably applied aboard the train on its transcontinental journey across the continent. Back in 1910, the folder was mailed with a 1¢ stamp. To mail the folder today would probably cost close to 68¢.

 Unfolded view.

A combined Header and Thresher at work in a
Washington Wheat Field

Did you notice the image featuring the Blackfeet Indians? The Great Northern Railway, blazing trails through untamed landscapes, chose to pay homage to the indigenous peoples of the land by featuring portraits of Native Americans on its postcards and promotional materials. I especially enjoy this aspect of collecting Great Northern memorabilia. I’ll focus on that in a future post.

Thanks for stopping by.

*The Blackfeet Indians knew the value of critters. Linking up with Saturday's Critters. Check it out!

Linking up with Thankful Thursday just to say I’m thankful for learning so much about history via vintage postcards. Thanks to Michelle for hosting.