Thomas Moran made what could be called the ultimate travel adventure. He experienced a new, wondrous almost mystical travel destination. As one biographer wrote, “Moran had found himself.” Moran found himself in what would become Yellowstone National Park. In 1871, a U.S. Geological Survey group was being organized to travel to and explore the Yellowstone region. Moran, 34, was a respected painter, engraver and illustrator. He was invited to travel with the expedition. However, he had never ridden a horse and had only camped once. But he was determined to do whatever it took to explore and paint what was there. He was so thin that he used a pillow on his saddle.
