Excelsior Geyser

Activity

Excelsior goes through periods of activity and inactivity. It was initially reported in 1869 as a large crater with a pool that had evidence of eruptions but none were seen until 1881 at which point, the geyser became active again. In 1888, photographer F. Jay Haynes took the only known photograph of the geyser in full eruption, capturing the power and violence of these eruptions. The eruptions of this period were described by Yellowstone superintendent Philetus Norris as:

"...simply incredible, elevating to heights of 100 to 300 feet, sufficient water to render the Fire Hole River, nearly 100 yards wide, [into] a foaming torrent of steaming hot water, and hurling rocks of from one to 100 pounds in weight, like those from an exploded mine, over surrounding acres."

By 1888, it had been reported as "extinct". An expedition by the U.S. Fish Commission in the summer of 1890 found that it had become an active geyser that erupted frequently but this active period soon ended. It is believed that the powerful eruptions had broken off sections of stone that had damaged its internal plumbing system.

In 1985, Excelsior returned to activity for a 46-hour period from September 14 to 16. These eruptions were relatively small at 30 feet (9.1 m) but a few were as much as 80 feet (24 m) tall and 100 feet (30 m) wide. All of these eruptions lasted about 2 minutes at intervals of 5 to 66 minutes.

Between 2004 and 2006, Excelsior did have violent boiling strong enough to be considered as eruptions. This boiling reached between 5 and 10 feet (1.5 and 3.0 m) and had a duration of seconds.