Prior to 2005, Yellowstone National Park’s vast collection of objects, specimens, and archival materials related to Yellowstone’s natural and cultural history were stored in various locations both inside and outside the park, where they were subject to deterioration, damage, and theft.
When the Heritage and Research Center opened, these collections (except historic vehicles) were relocated and stored in a single location. This state-of-the-art storage facility meets standards set by the National Park Service, the American Alliance of Museums, and the National Archives and Records Administration. Both the Heritage and Research Center and its staff help the continued preservation of Yellowstone’s collections.
Included in the collection is an incredible 22,000 library of books which recently underwent a complete inventory. If you are interested in accessing this incredible resource, you can browse the library’s catalog or research databases, available through the WYLD Network for library patrons. If you are interested in getting your hands on actual books and periodicals, The Yellowstone Research Library research room and collections are open to the public, free of charge.
The research library collects published and unpublished materials related to the greater Yellowstone area to make them available to park staff, researchers, and the public. The library collection consists of more than 22,000 books, periodicals, theses and dissertations, maps, unpublished manuscripts, microforms of historic newspapers and scrapbooks, brochures, technical reports, and audio-visual material. The library collection is owned by the National Park Service and is managed through a cooperative agreement process with the Great Basin Institute.
Yellowstone Research Library Operating Hours
The center is open Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm. It is closed on all federal holidays, November 28, and December 26–December 31. Public tours of the Heritage and Research Center are offered every first and third Wednesday of each month, Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8–9am. Space is limited. Please e-mail yell_heritage_center@nps.gov or call 307-344-2264 to RSVP.
