History – Glacier National Park

History records that Glacier National Park formed to protect glaciated terrain and mountain-access corridors in the early 20th century. Authorities first set aside land to conserve scenic valleys and the plants that depend on cool microclimates. Local communities used the valley for timber and travel routes long before park creation. The park later joined trans-provincial efforts to protect the Selkirk and Monashee mountain systems and to offer public access to alpine scenery. Over decades, park managers added visitor facilities and trail registers. They balanced recreation with habitat protection for species that depend on alpine meadows and subalpine forests. The park kept smaller footprint zones for strict nature protection and allowed moderate development near main access roads. Scientific teams studied the park’s glaciers, mapping retreating icefields and monitoring meadow ecology. Today the park serves both as a destination for outdoor visitors and as a living laboratory about mountain change.