""Behind The Legend Of Colter's Hell: The Early Exploration Of Yellowstone National Park"" by Merrill J. Mattes is a comprehensive historical account of the early exploration of Yellowstone National Park. The book focuses on the legend of John Colter, the first white man to explore the region, and his supposed descent into a fiery inferno known as Colter's Hell. The author delves into the origins of the legend and examines the historical evidence behind it. The book covers the period from the early 1800s to the mid-1800s when Yellowstone was still largely unexplored and unknown to most Americans. The author provides detailed descriptions of the expeditions led by various explorers, including Colter, Jim Bridger, and Nathaniel Wyeth. Mattes also explores the interactions between the explorers and the Native American tribes who inhabited the region, shedding light on the complex relationships that developed between them. The book is well-researched and includes numerous primary source documents, such as journals and letters, to support the author's arguments. The writing is clear and engaging, making it accessible to both scholars and general readers interested in the history of Yellowstone National Park. Overall, ""Behind The Legend Of Colter's Hell"" is a fascinating exploration of the early history of one of America's most iconic national parks.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.