Clagett Butte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clagett Butte |
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View from Clagett Butte
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,041 ft (2,451 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Yellowstone National Park, Park County, Wyoming, US |
| Parent range | Gallatin Range |
| Topo map | Mammoth |
Clagett Butte is a special mountain peak located in Yellowstone National Park. It's a type of mountain called a butte, which means it's a tall, flat-topped hill with steep sides. This butte stands tall in the Gallatin Range and reaches about 8,041 feet (2,451 meters) high.
Clagett Butte is a bit isolated, meaning it stands mostly by itself. It's located about 1.9 miles (3.1 km) west of Mammoth Hot Springs, a popular area in the park. You can find it between two places called Clematis Creek and Snow Pass. If you ever hike the Snow Pass trail, you'll be quite close, as the trail passes about 0.33 miles (0.53 km) south of the butte.
How Clagett Butte Got Its Name
Clagett Butte was officially named in 1926. This name was chosen by Jack Ellis Haynes, a park photographer, and Horace Albright, who was the park superintendent at the time. They wanted to honor a very important person named William H. Clagett.
Who Was William H. Clagett?
William H. Clagett (1838–1901) was a politician from Montana. He served as a delegate for the Montana Territory in the United States Congress. His biggest achievement was introducing a special bill called the Act of Dedication. This bill was super important because it led to the creation of Yellowstone National Park. Thanks to his efforts, Yellowstone became the world's first national park!
Other Names for the Butte
Before it was officially named Clagett Butte in 1926, this peak had a few other names. For example, in 1885, a park guide named G. L. Henderson called it Temple Mountain. This name was used by many local people for a long time. Later, in 1887, a group of geologists led by Arnold Hague called it Sentinel Butte. Then, in 1897, they tried calling it Signal Butte. However, none of these earlier names ever became official. The name Clagett Butte stuck because of William H. Clagett's important role in protecting Yellowstone.
