Since the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, visitors have been passionate about collecting natural curiosities to take home as mementoes. While some early tourists were content to merely pick up pretty stones and other specimens of nature, other, more aggressive, excursionists resorted to breaking off large chunks of hot spring and geyser formations, taking whatever they could fit in their luggage or on their horses and wagons. This, of course, was problematic as in the process the very features that attracted travelers were damaged or destroyed.
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