Photographic portrait from Christmas card sent by Moran in 1883 American Visionaries honors Thomas Moran who was instrumental in securing our heritage of national parks for the continuing benefit and enjoyment of the American people and the world. Thomas Moran’s vision of the Western landscape was critical to the creation of Yellowstone National Park. His pencil and watercolor field sketches and paintings captured the grandeur and documented the extraordinary terrain and natural features of the Yellowstone region. Moran's artwork was presented to members of Congress by park proponents. These powerful images of Yellowstone fired the imagination and helped inspire Congress to establish the National Park System in 1916.

Museum Management Program