Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center facts for kids
The Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center is a special building in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park. It's a place where visitors can learn about the park, get help, and find things they need for their trip. Inside, you'll find cool exhibits, movies, and park rangers who can teach you about the area. There's also a book store, a snack bar, a gift shop, and restrooms. You can pick up maps and brochures here too!
The first visitor center opened in 1966. It was originally called the Paradise Visitor Center. Later, in 1987, it was renamed after Senator Henry M. Jackson. He was a very important person who helped make the park better for everyone. A brand new visitor center was finished in 2008, and the old building was taken down.
Exploring the Past: The Visitor Center's Story
Mount Rainier National Park was chosen to try out a special program called "Mission 66." This program aimed to improve services for visitors in national parks across the country. The idea for the Paradise Visitor Center was to create a place for day visitors. It would not offer overnight stays.
Construction on the first building began in 1964. The plans included a restaurant, a museum, an information center, a ski rental shop, and a warming hut. By the time it was finished in 1966, the building cost about $2 million.
The Look of the Old Building: Architecture and Design
The first visitor center was designed by a team of architects from Honolulu and Tacoma, Washington. They made the building round with a very unique roof. The goal was for it to blend in with the mountains around it. A flyer from when it opened described its "swooping" beams and "tree" columns. It also mentioned "switchback trail" ramps and "sloped cliffs" on the stone base.
This building style was called "modernist." It was very different from the older, more rustic buildings in national parks. Many people thought it looked like a flying saucer. Others said it looked like a sunken Seattle Space Needle. Some people felt it didn't fit the natural beauty of Paradise. But others thought its grand size actually suited the location well.
Why a New Building? The Replacement Story
Even though some people liked the old building's look, there were bigger problems. The roof was not designed for the huge amounts of snow that fall in Paradise each winter. To stop the roof from collapsing, workers had to use a lot of diesel fuel every day to melt the snow. This was very expensive and not good for the environment.
Also, the old building no longer met modern safety and accessibility rules. Even with ramps, it took up too much space. Because of these issues, the National Park Service decided to build a new visitor center.
Construction on the new building started in 2006. This new center is smaller and uses much less energy. The new Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center opened on October 10, 2008. The original building was taken down in the spring of 2009.
