He ferried park visitors across the Yellowstone River above the current site of the Chittenden Memorial Bridge then escorted them to the trail and they traveled down to the base of the Lower Falls via ladders and ropes.

In 1903 when the original Chittenden Bridge was built, Richardson's ferry business began to decline.

In 1905, when the government built a wooden stairway, visitors were increasingly unwilling to pay Richardson the $1 fee for the tour to the base of the falls.

[2] Uncle Tom's Trail has been maintained and improved by the National Park Service.

It has been removed from all current National Park Service Publications [4] The Yellowstone Public Affairs Office confirms the National Park Service has permanently closed Uncle Tom's Trail and "plans to remove the staircase in the future.