The Yellowstone Trail Association (YTA)


The original YTA was formed in 1912 and worked formally to create the transcontinental highway from Boston to Seattle. By the early 1930s, the Depression and the aggressive efforts of state and federal governments to assume road building responsibility and route marking caused the Association to fade and, over the years, be forgotten.  

Around 1999, a number of local historians, several retired university professors, and representatives of the tourism industry, individually and then collectively, began attempts to spread the word about the historical significance, the tourism potential, and the just plain fun that could be found in this old auto route. Those efforts slowly jelled into a modern YTA that is beginning to make its mark.

Our membership is diverse.  There are Seniors with family memories related to the Trail and early auto travel, antique car aficionados who take Sociability Runs on the Trail just as members did in 1917, local historians finding a new aspect of their communities, modern travelers looking for an “authentic” experience, and tourism professionals with the same goals as the original founders: local economic development.

We extend  an invitation to you to join with us.

Volunteers have mapped, in great detail, the route of the YT through its thirteen states. They have begun the marking of the Trail and promoting interpretive signs. Regularly they produce a newsletter/journal, the Arrow.

Most important, we all want to share information and experiences.




The Arrow newsletter

Membership Application

Events

The Interpretive Sign Project.

The Yellowstone Trail Association has formally stated its purposes:


1)  Public Education: to increase public knowledge of the Trail and its importance in both local and national history,  

2)  Historical Research: to acquire information and stories about the Trail and its historical context,

3) Historical Preservation: to promote the preservation of appropriate sections of the Yellowstone Trail and buildings or other artifacts along the Trail,

4)  Communication: to provide a medium of communication and support among its members, and

5)  Heritage Tourism: to assist heritage tourism agencies along the Trail to promote the Trail, and

6)  Related Events: to sponsor or support various events related to the history of the Trail to support the other purposes.


Continued:  The YTA Then and Now.

Introduction to the Yellowstone Trail Association (YTA)–

This page.


Donations

The YTA Then and Now.

The Forum

Home


Click  on YTA to:

Learn about the Yellowstone Trail Association

Join the YTA

Donate to the YTA

Help with the interpretive sign project.

 See an Arrow Newsletter

Join the Forum

Learn of events

YT Assoc. HOME LEARN


Click  on LEARN to:

Learn about the Yellowstone Trail


Read stories, essays, and notes

related directly or loosely

to the Yellowstone Trail


Enjoy discussions on the Forum

MAPS

Click  on MAPS to:

See state and regional

Maps of the Yellowstone Trail


These maps, while the most complete

and accurate available

are nevertheless

“Works in Progress”


Let us know about your corrections,

additions, and suggestions.

TALK

Click  on TALK to:

Ask a question.


Give us an opinion.


Tell us something.


Submit a correction.


Go to the Forum


Go to YTA on Facebook

SHOP

Click  on SHOP to:

Browse

And Buy

YT Books

YT Guides

YT Signs

YT Window Stickers

YT Tee Shirts

And other stuff