Many of the structures from the later construction period are now used as administrative offices, residences for National Park Service employees, museums and visitor center.

The army effectively implemented law enforcement priorities and developed a ranger force that provided for prosecution and punishment of those engaged in illegal activity in the national parks.

[3] The poorly funded Interior Department was unable to prevent degradation of the park and in some circumstances, was complicit with special interest groups.

Senator George Vest led efforts to prevent railroads and other special interests from misusing the resource, and along with other members of Congress believed that only the military could effectively protect the park.

[4][6] Camp Sheridan consisted of an arrangement of temporary facilities at the base of Capitol Hill just east of the Mammoth Hot Springs travertine terraces.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 31, 2003 for its significance in conservation, military, politics and government from 1888 to 1918.

Like other western military posts, the earliest buildings erected at Fort Yellowstone were constructed according to quartermaster general standardized plans.

The buildings were of one to two-and-a-half stories in height, and of frame construction with drop siding and stone foundations, with evenly spaced double-hung sash windows and prominent porches.

The most prominent of the structures built in the later period is the Horace Albright Visitor Center which was originally the bachelor officers' quarters (Bldg 1).

[15] Architects Reed and Stem and Robert Reamer along with the U.S. Army Office of the Chief Quartermaster, Department of Dakota participated in the design of many of the facilities.

Two NCO quarters (Bldgs 31 and 32) were added to "soap-suds row" in 1897 and the distinctive cavalry barracks (Bldg 27), which now houses administrative offices, was constructed in 1899.

[18] In 1901, in cooperation with Captain John Pitcher, Acting Park Superintendent, he began a series of projects to improve the quality of life at the fort.

Chittenden had a reservoir built in 1901 to provide a consistent supply of water for irrigation, human consumption and fire fighting.

On his last day in the park, April 24, 1903, Roosevelt participated in the cornerstone laying ceremony and the arch was completed later that year.

This iconic building anchors the northwest corner of the main fort area and houses the Horace Albright Visitor Center, a museum, theater and the Yellowstone Forever gift shop.

However, at the insistence of park superintendent Pitcher, U.S. Commissioner Meldrum and Wyoming state senator Francis E. Warren, Congress appropriated the funds for the construction of a chapel in 1909 and the building was finished in January 1913.

[21] On September 19, 1914, Katharine Piercy Edmunds and Captain Albert Ady King, 1st U.S. Cavalry, were the first couple to be married in the new chapel.

They include the Buffalo Lake snowshoe cabin (Bldg 234) and the Norris and Bechler River soldier stations (Bldgs 111 and 231).

Under the watchful eyes of the army, the geothermal features, forests and wildlife of Yellowstone were protected from vandalism, fire and poaching.

[29] Proactive actions by the army in stopping poaching in the park led to the passing of the Lacey Act of 1894, which established legal protection for the wildlife and remedies for dealing with violators.

[30][31] When Company M, 1st U.S. Cavalry arrived in Yellowstone, Captain Moses Harris, a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient,[32] on his own authority and initiative, promulgated a set of rules that his staff enforced to protect park resources still adhered to in the 21st century: 1) The cutting of green timber, or the removal or displacement of any mineral deposits or natural curiosities, is forbidden.

These cabins, strategically located about 10 miles (16 km) apart, were used by detachments of soldiers throughout the year as they stayed watchful for wildfires, vandalism and poaching.

[5] Captain Young, during his first tour as Acting Superintendent in 1897, established patrol cabin policies that are essentially still followed by Park Rangers.

Enough dry wood for one night should always be left in the cabin.Of the many decisions made by Captain Boutelle in managing the park, his approach to fisheries had significant and lasting impact.

Under the leadership of Captain Pitcher, the army began a program of importing plains bison from private domestic herds in Texas and Montana.

[19] Administrative control remained with the Interior Department under the supervision of Acting Superintendent Chester Allinson Lindsley, a long time civilian employee in the park.

Relations between the army, the Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department continued to be contentious in 1917–1918 as disagreements over proposed construction, ownership of buildings and use of personnel persisted.

[19] John Muir a foremost American naturalist and often called the "Father of the National Parks" once wrote: "Blessings on Uncle Sam's Soldiers.

The army set precedents for future headquarters area development designs, visitor services such as educational outreach and interpretive tours.

[37] The commanding officer of the Fort Yellowstone troop was designated as the Acting Superintendent of the park, reporting to both the army and the Interior Secretary.