(CNN) — Often called "America's best idea," the creation of the world's first national park at Yellowstone wasn't intended to be a radical new idea by a young nation.
It was a practical solution to a territorial argument. It was supposed to become a state park, but the Yellowstone land was in three territories, none of them yet a state.
"There was an immediate argument between Montana and Wyoming newspapers about who would get the park," Yellowstone National Park historian Lee Whittlesey said. "That is why Congress made it a federal park."
Most members of Congress didn't oppose the Yellowstone legislation because most people hadn't seen the land, Whittlesey said.
