Mail Carriers Cabin - Yellowstone
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Mail Carriers Cabin - Yellowstone
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The historic Mail Carrier’s Cabin in the Mammoth Hot Springs area of Yellowstone National Park.
The origins of the building located at the perimeter of Fort Yellowstone, which later became known as the mail carrier's house, are subject to debate. However, it holds significance as the only log structure from the 1800s still standing in Mammoth Hot Springs. Its rustic design is more representative of the area's construction style during that era than the buildings erected by the US Army for Fort Yellowstone. Likely constructed in the mid-1890s, this building has served various purposes, including housing mail carriers and employees of concessions and the National Park Service.
Before rural mail delivery was established, mail carriers would transport mail from railroad distribution points to post offices. People often traveled long distances to these post offices to collect their mail, their primary connection to the outside world. In the 1800s, a contracted mail carrier transported mail from Livingston's railroad station in Montana to Mammoth Hot Springs and then on to Cooke City, Montana—a journey that took several days before returning to Livingston.
The cabin was either constructed by or sold to an early park concessionaire known as the Yellowstone Park Association. Around 1903, a lean-to with a shed roof was added at the back of this two-room structure for a kitchen and dining area. In the 1930s, additional modifications included adding a mudroom and bathroom on its north side, increasing its total area to 512 square feet.
In removing insulation added in the 1930s during renovations in the early 2000s, workers discovered newspapers announcing the Wright Brothers' flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903 beneath it. By 1972, experts deemed it deteriorated beyond practical use and recommended demolition due to high restoration costs. Despite this recommendation and its poor condition, it was listed on the National Register in 1982 and continued housing park staff for a
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September 26th, 2024
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