Jackson Hole Story

On February 26, 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill establishing Grand Teton National Park. The 96,000-acre area protected the Teton Range and the scenic lakes at the base of the mountains. Its boundaries satisfied many locals. But others wanted the park to be even bigger. The stage was set for a series of political events wild enough to have come from the pages of Old West fiction.

Marking the 75th anniversary of the original Grand Teton National Park (est. 1929), KUED presents a documentary that explores the struggle behind the expansion of federally protected land in Teton County. The documentary takes a balanced look at efforts to promote – and actions to stifle – the enlarged Grand Teton National Park known today. At the same time, the program shows how the battle over public and private land shaped Jackson Hole into what it is today. The program was produced by KUED’s Joe Prokop and narrated by Babe Humphrey of the Bar J Wranglers band.

The one-hour documentary combines footage of breathtaking scenery with archival photos and old 8-mm film to detail the evolution of Jackson Hole over the course of the 20th century. Featured interviews include former Wyoming Governor and U.S. Senator Cliff Hansen, dude rancher Jack Huyler, long-time residents Bob Kranenberg and Virginia Huidekoper, and outdoorsmen Bill Briggs and Frank Ewing.

Culled from the Columbia University Oral History Office are recorded memories of well-known locals W.C. “Slim” Lawrence and Homer Richards, along with former Yellowstone Park superintendent Horace Albright and lawyer Harold Fabian.

This series is not in our programming database at this time.