The Yellowstone National Park as seen by. . . [the Legel family during a 1921 Western automobile camping trip in their Ford Model T Centerdoor Sedan “Elizabeth” from Iowa to South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and back from July 18, 1921 to August 19, 1921. Post-World War I there was a substantial expansion of the “See America First” Good Roads movement encouraging Americans to hit the open road, and experience the grandeur of the National Parks in the Western United States].

Clinton, IA: John G. Legel, [Jr.], 1921. Oblong 4to. 11.25 x 8.25 in. [96 pp (unpaginated).], on thick black paper stock, w/ 160 silver gelatin photographs sized from 2.5 x 3.5 in. up to 3.5 x 5.5 in., nearly all w/ neat draftsman hand captions & negative numbers w/in negative, 11 unnumbered, white manuscript lettered title, all images artfully arranged. Contemporary “Ideal” flexible black cloth post-binder, gilt lettering front cover, sewn at gutter margin w/ black silk tie (scuffing, edgewear, minor bumping & wear to corners), still VG exemplar, w/ all images with excellent bright contrast. This remarkable automobile travel album documents a World War I veteran and architect road trip with his pharmacist parents, and fiance as they drove from in their 1920 Ford Model T Centerdoor hardtop sedan from Clinton, IA to Yellowstone National Park, and back. Since most State highways, and roads across the country were still largely dirt gravel, and occasional macadam, or paved, the Ford sedan proved ideal with its’ low-powered 100 inch wheelbase, and ability to travel over mucky rutted roads, and also featured demountable rims allowing quick tire-changes. The album opens with a remarkable series of photographs documenting the careful loading of tent, camping equipment, and luggage for the four, tied to the rear and running boards, with campsites set up in Lennox, near White Lake, Chamberlin, SD, and Sheridan & Parkman, WY. A few of the photos show Legel Jr.’s efforts to repair and maintain the tricky Ford, including a visit to the “Texaco” service station and blacksmith in Wyoming referred to as “the first hospital” in the caption. After visiting the Custer Battlefield in the Black Hills, camping and driving through Yankee Jim Valley, MT, and Gardner, the group headed into Yellowstone National Park. Images include those of Yellowstone stagecoach, Angel Terrace, Liberty Cap & Devils Thumb, Jupiter Terrace, Hoodoo Rocks, Silver Gate, Roaring Mountain, Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Auto Camp, the Continental Divide, and more. The Old Faithful Auto Camp photo depicts many of their fellow travelers, with autos and attached tents interspersed throughout the stand of fir trees. Many of the snapshots depict a rawer, more undeveloped Yellowstone, with visitors standing close to the Dragon’s Mouth, a view of the Mud Volcano, and the roaring Upper Falls of Yellowstone, and view of Grand Canyon, as well as obligatory feeding of black bear cubs. After a quick trip to Roosevelt Dam at Shoshone Point, one of the Grand Canyon’s best kept secrets, the group makes their way back through Wyoming, Petrified Forest, North Dakota and Iowa corn fields, and camping at Minnehaha Falls. Legel Jr. (1890-1969) worked as an architect for the storied Curtis company in Clinton, IA until the tragic death of his wife Georgia (d. 1929) in childbirth, after which he became salesman for his parents pharmacy in Charles City, IA, and took over the longtime business following his father’s death. His father John Legel, Sr. (1859-1930) was a longtime permanent resident of Charles City, served as mayor of the city, and was a four time Iowa state senator. Such well-curated and cohesive automobile travel albums to National Parks are unusual, especially in presenting a cohesive documented account.