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Wyoming 2023 Trip➤

In September of 2023, my husband I set out to explore some National Park units in the state of Wyoming. We visited Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, The John D. Rockefeller Parkway, and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. While in Grand Teton National Park, we visited the Menor’s Ferry Historic District.

Grand Teton National Park➤

The Tetons are the youngest of all the mountain ranges in the Rocky Mountain chain. Most other mountains in the region are at least 50 million years old but the Tetons are less than 10 million and are still rising. The Jackson Hole valley is of the same age and continues to sink. The tallest peaks tower almost 7,000 feet above the valley floor, already at an elevation of about 6800 feet. With no foothills, the resulting landscape is dramatic and breathtaking.

In the 1920s, John D. Rockefeller Jr. agreed to acquire thousands of acres around Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and then donate this land to the government for a national park. At the urging of Horace Albright, then director of the National Park Service, Rockefeller formed a company called the Snake River Land Company to buy up property around the Snake River in secret. Rockefeller wanted to keep his name out of it to keep the price lower.

Meanwhile, in 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signed the act creating Grand Teton National Park, at half its present size. The park only protected the Teton Range and 6 lakes at the foot of the mountains. Rockefeller encountered resistance from locals when he tried to donate his land to expand the park.

In 1943, Rockefeller told President Franklin Delano Roosevelt he would sell to the highest bidder if the government didn’t use his land for the park. Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act and declared additional land in the valley to be Jackson Hole National Monument. The two units were combined to become the present Grand Teton National Park in 1950.

Menors Ferry Historic District➤

Tucked along the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park, Menor’s Ferry offers a glimpse into Jackson Hole’s early settlement history. Homesteaded by Bill Menor in the 1890s, this site became a lifeline for pioneers with its ferry crossing that connected the isolated western side of the river to the valley. Menor’s land, chosen for its stable single-channel river flow, hosted a thriving operation including a cabin, store, barn, and a waterwheel-powered irrigation system. His ferry served the area until 1918, when Maude Noble took over, maintaining the crossing until a bridge was built in 1927. Later restored by John D. Rockefeller Jr., Menor’s Ferry became a centerpiece for historical preservation.

The site’s structures stand out for their rustic charm paired with classical elements, particularly the whitewashed logs that create a clean, striking appearance against the natural surroundings. The Menor cabin evolved room by room, blending practicality with modest style, while the store served as a key hub for supplies. Equally significant is the Maude Noble Cabin, which not only tells the story of a determined Philadelphian who settled in Jackson Hole but also hosted a 1923 meeting pivotal to the creation of Grand Teton National Park.

On a ranger-led tour, we discovered the rich history of Menor’s Ferry. Our guide vividly described the lives of Bill Menor, Maude Noble, and other settlers while unlocking the cabins for us to explore. Peering into rooms where meals were prepared, goods were sold, and conservation dreams were born brought the history to life. The restored ferry—ingeniously powered by the river’s current—was a highlight, as the ranger explained its operation without motors. The stories shared during the tour transformed these preserved buildings into a vivid reminder of pioneer resilience and ingenuity.

Grand Teton Posts➤

• Snake River Overlook
• Lakeshore Trail
• Jackson Lake
• Oxbow Bend
• Schwabacher Landing
• Jenny Lake
• Teton Wildlife Sunset Tour
• Signal Mountain
• Hidden Falls
• Mormon Row
• National Elk Refuge
• Taggart Lake
• Chapel of the Transfiguration
• Menor’s Ferry Historic District
• Jackson National Fish Hatchery

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Location: 127 Noble Way, Moose, Wyoming
Designation: National Park
Date designated/established: February 26, 1929
Date of my visit: September 30, 2023