The Parade Ground

The drill field was the focal point of daily life at Fort Yellowstone, serving as a gathering place, training ground, and site of ceremonies and parades. Each day began early with a bugler sounding reveille, and another bugle call brought horse-mounted soldiers trotting onto the field for the flag raising. Assignments were announced, and troopers headed out to patrol Mammoth Hot Spring terraces, while those remaining behind cared for the post’s horses, stood guard duty, or joined a work detail. At dusk, the bugler called all troopers back to the field for the lowering of the flag, and the day ended with a cannon firing from the top of Capitol Hill. Taps was played as lights winked out and quiet settled over the fort.

Mammoth, Wyoming · United States