How did Yellowstone National Park get its name?

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Yellowstone National Park Old Faithful geyser erupting, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, northwestern Wyoming, U.S.

Yellowstone National Park was named after the Yellowstone River, which flows through the park. The river itself likely received its name from the Shoshone people, who referred to it as "Mi tsi a-da-zi," meaning "Yellow Rock River," due to the yellow-colored rocks found in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Early European explorers, such as Lieutenant William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, encountered the river and its descriptive name, which was eventually anglicized to "Yellowstone." This name was then applied to the surrounding region and, ultimately, to the national park established in 1872.123