Glacier National Park straddles the continental divide in northern Montana, from the Canadian border south. As such it contains quite a few tall mountains, which Adams seemed to favor, especially snow sprinkled ones which were bordered by mountain lakes. One of his photo locations was Two Medicine Lake, near the south end of the park. It was the first area in the park to be developed, the place to which the Great Northern Railway first ran when carrying tourists to the park. Later development took place at St. Mary's Lake, to the north of Two Medicine and is today the more popular destination.
This, our first Ansel Adams rendition, was taken from the eastern shore of Two Medicine Lake, just off the deck of the chalet and store here. This chalet was, we're told, in place at the time that Adams visited. He likely stayed in the chalet while here.
Glacier Park History
Much of the early history of Waterton-Glacier is the story of the Great Northern Railway. The railway helped promote legislation that established Glacier National Park in 1910. James J. Hill, president of the railroad, not only built a railroad, but he created an empire of towns and ranches along the tracks from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington. This route today is still called the Empire Builder.
With the help from his son, Louis, JJ's vision was to make the area the "Playground of the Northwest." The Hills invested a substantial amount of money in the area. A chain of hotels, chalets, boats, roads, and trails were designed and built to attract tourists. The railroad tapped into the market of wealthy Americans who generally took lengthy trips to Europe and lured them to Glacier with the slogan "See America First." Of course, to get to the parks they would ride the railroad. The railroad was the major concessionaire and developer of visitor facilities in Glacier from 1910 until after World War II.
Learn more about the park at the National Park Service