He set out with two friends, spent time on a ranch, and visited Yellowstone National Park before the flood of tourism that modern travel has made it. It was the trip of a lifetime, fill with adventure and wonder.

He writes at the entrance:

“If you carry firearms you are requested to surrender them, or else the officer in charge seals them, and as there are a number of military posts distributed throughout the park, it is necessary that you report at each one of these posts to show that the seal is still intact.”

Unlike today, when the concern is possible altercations between road-raged city folk in the park, the rangers in 1900 were more concerned that you didn’t take trophies of the wildlife.

McGonnigle is forgotten today but was a prominent Pittsburgh businessman and philanthropist in his day. He led a remarkably active and useful life.