Loomis Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Loomis Visitor Center
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lassen Volcanic National Park, Shingletown, California |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000177 |
| Added to NRHP | February 25, 1975 |
The Loomis Museum, also called the Loomis Visitor Center, is a special building near Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park in California, USA. It was built in 1927 by Benjamin Franklin Loomis. He was a local photographer and homesteader who took many pictures of the Lassen Peak eruptions in 1915. His work was very important in helping to create Lassen Volcanic National Park in 1916.
Loomis wanted the park's main office to be at Manzanita Lake. However, the Park Service chose a different spot. So, Benjamin Loomis and his wife, Estella, decided to build their own museum. They wanted to show off Loomis's photos, other pictures, cool rocks, and items from local Native American groups. The museum opened on July 4, 1927. It was named the Mae Loomis Memorial Museum, after their daughter, Luisa Mae Loomis, who had passed away in 1920. In 1929, Loomis gave the museum and about 40 acres (16 ha) of land around it to the National Park Service. Since then, the building has been used to teach visitors about the park.
About the Loomis Museum
The Loomis Museum is a one-story building shaped like a rectangle. It is made from local volcanic rocks. The main part of the museum is about 25 feet (7.6 m) long and 60 feet (18 m) wide. It has small sections added to the back, making it look like a "T" from above. The building has cool, stepped walls at the top that look like a castle.
The main entrance has fancy side windows and a round window above the door. A small roof sticks out over the entrance, offering shelter. The sides of the building also have similar small roofs. All these roofs are covered with green tiles. Inside, the museum is mostly one big room.
The Seismograph Building
About 45 feet (14 m) away from the museum is a smaller building. It is called the seismograph building and looks similar to the museum. This building is about 10 feet (3.0 m) long and 12 feet (3.7 m) wide. The Loomises built it in 1926. It has three large windows that let visitors see the earthquake-measuring equipment inside.
In 1952, some people thought the Loomis Museum looked "ugly" and considered tearing it down. This was part of a program called Mission 66, which aimed to improve national parks. However, the museum and the seismograph station were saved. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 1975. This means they are important historical sites. The museum was updated in 1994, and the seismograph building in 1995. Today, the museum is still used by the Park Service to help visitors. Both buildings are also part of the Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District.
Images for kids
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Historic photograph of the Loomis Seismograph Station
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The Seismograph Station at present (2011)
