When is a spot more than just a spot? 1t was 1872 – Thomas Moran painted a waterfall that was inside Yellowstone. Moran was an English born artist known for his works of the American west. It is said he truly believed that words couldn’t express the magnificence of what he was seen to survey, of what he was sent to explore. Words would fall short. His main part of the Yellowstone expedition was his diary, but he also sketched. So he sketched the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It now hangs in the second floor lobby of one of the Smithsonian’s in Washington.
But something got a bit confused. In 1883, Frank Jay Haynes visited Yellowstone. He was at a specific spot he called – “Artist Point” – a magnificent overlook of the falls of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. It has become the most photographed venue in the million acre park. This spot, this cliff, this one particular overlook of the south rim, this view form almost a mile away, sees a powerful waterfall (50,000 plus gallons every second) that cuts a V shaped canyon 1000-feet deep that begins the Grand Canyon of YNP.
You can see miles and miles of steep canyon walls, nesting places of osprey, bald eagles, and more.
HERE IS A NOTE OF CONFUSION – The Moran sketch was later determined to be from a different venue off the north rim. But, the name stuck.
Personal note: Earlier in the day (Day 5 Part A) I mentioned the best was yet to come. And this was it. This view, in my view, is the Magnus Opus of the views of YNP. It is, as Moran put, beyond words. And it was exciting to know my wife agreed with me. Let me say that again in another way. My wife said I was right. I love it when that happens.
Now the sad part of this story – where words really aren’t enough. I looked around Artist Point. I saw scores, maybe hundreds of people gawking and amazed at the wonder of the view, an awe of the creation. they shaped their photos for posterity. But I pondered if the many viewing this point of creation had any concept of the Creator who is greater than the creation. Did they know the one who painted this scene of splendor? Not Moran, but the Majestic Messiah who spoke all of this in to be.
I took pictures of the crowd, and realized that the God who created the waterfall created them too. I hope you know that. I hope you know Him.
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After we left Artist Point, we headed back for dinner at the Old Faithful Inn and finally getting to see the faithful spewing from Old Faithful geyser. Knowing her mother too stood and watched this from the same spots made the faithfulness of God all that more real.
God is creative. God is majestic. God is faithful. God is … words can’t truly express.
I hope you know Him.
Tomorrow – finally, a bison up close – real close. But still no moose.
Muddy Shoes by Todd 
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