“These springs were intermittent, flowing or boiling at irregular intervals. The greater portion of them were perfectly quiet while we were there, although nearly all gave unmistakable evidence of frequent activity. Some of them would quietly settle for ten feet, while another would as quietly rise until it overflowed its banks, and send a torrent of hot water sweeping down to the lake. At the same time, one near at hand would send a sparkling jet of water ten or twelve feet high, which would fall back into its basin, and then perhaps instantly stop boiling and quietly settle into the earth, or suddenly rise and discharge its water in every direction over the rim; while another, as if wishing to attract our wondering gaze, would throw up a cone six feet in diameter and eight feet high, with a loud roar.”

After reading these words, are you able to imagine the scene the author is describing? Do you think you would understand the scene better if you had an actual picture to illustrate what the author is saying? This description of the Yellowstone hot springs comes from a magazine article "The Valley of The Yellowstone," and was the first known published report of Yellowstone by eyewitness explorers. The Western Monthly Magazine published it in 1870, but the article had no illustrations.