Highlands Historic District (Moose, Wyoming) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Highlands Historic District
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Highlands Dining Room and Lodge
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Moose, Wyoming |
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| MPS | Grand Teton National Park MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001029 |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1998 |
The Highlands Historic District is a special area located inside Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. It used to be a private property, meaning it was owned by people, not the park. This area is now recognized as a historic district because of its unique old buildings and how they show the history of tourism in the park.
The buildings at Highlands are made in a rustic log style. This means they look natural and fit in well with the beautiful park scenery. Today, the National Park Service uses these buildings to house its employees who work in the park during different seasons.
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The Highlands: A Historic Place
The Highlands Historic District tells an interesting story about how people lived and visited national parks long ago. It shows how private businesses helped tourists before the park took over all visitor services.
Early Days and the Sensenbach Homestead
The story of the Highlands began in 1914. A couple named Harry and Elizabeth Sensenbach started a homestead here. A homestead was a piece of land given by the government to people who promised to live on it and farm it.
In the 1920s, the Sensenbachs found a new way to earn money. Many people started traveling by car to visit national parks. The Sensenbachs began offering places for these tourists to stay.
Growing as a Tourist Spot
In 1946, the property was sold to new owners. These were Charles Byron, Jeanne Jenkins, and Gloria Jenkins Wardell. They wanted to make the Highlands even better for visitors.
They started building more cabins, adding one or two each year. These cabins were arranged in a U-shape around a main building called the lodge. All the buildings were made from logs, giving them a natural, rustic look. This style was very popular and fit perfectly with the park's natural beauty.
The Highlands was different from other places. It wasn't an "auto camp," which was for quick overnight stays. It also wasn't a "dude ranch," which offered cowboy activities. Instead, the Highlands encouraged guests to stay for a moderate amount of time. It offered relaxing activities, not super active ones.
The Highlands was the very last private place for visitors to be built in the park. After it, the park started a program called Mission 66. This program created new, larger facilities run by the park itself or by companies working for the park.
Becoming Part of the Park
The National Park Service bought the Highlands property in 1972. This was an important step for the park. It allowed the park to use the land for its own needs.
After buying the Highlands, the Park Service used it to house its seasonal employees. These are people who work in the park during busy times of the year. The purchase also helped the park manage other nearby properties.
The Highlands was officially recognized as a historic place on August 19, 1998. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is considered important to the history of the United States and is protected.
