Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District
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Loomis Art House
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 39489 CA 44, Shingletown, California |
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| Area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Built by | Benjamin and Estella Loomis, Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Architect | National Park Service (1930s structures) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance, NPS Rustic |
| MPS | Lassen Volcanic National Park MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000525 |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 2006 |
The Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District is a special area at the northwest entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park in northeastern California. It's where visitors learn all about the park's amazing nature. This historic district includes buildings that tell the story of how the park helped people explore and understand its unique environment.
Contents
Welcome to Manzanita Lake!
This area is known for its beautiful lake and the important buildings around it. These buildings were created to help people enjoy and learn about the park. It's a place where history and nature come together.
The Loomis Family's Vision
The first buildings here were made by Benjamin and Estella Loomis. They were very important in helping to create Lassen Volcanic National Park. They were also among the first "concessioners," which means they ran businesses inside the park for visitors.
In 1927, the Loomises built the Loomis Museum and a small building called a seismograph hut. A seismograph measures earthquakes. In 1929, they gave these buildings and 40 acres (16 ha) of land to the National Park Service. The Loomis House, also called the Loomis Art House, was built around the same time. It was their home, a photography studio, and a shop until the 1950s.
Building with the National Park Service
In the 1930s, the National Park Service added more buildings at Manzanita Lake. These included the entrance station (built in 1930), the ranger's home (1931), and a comfort station (1931). The naturalist's home (1933) was designed to be similar to buildings in Crater Lake National Park. Their designs were perfect for places with short building seasons, like Lassen Volcanic. Young men from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build the naturalist's home. The CCC was a group that helped build many parks and public works during the Great Depression.
A Scary Moment and a Happy Return
In 1973, park officials thought the area might be in danger. A geological report said that rocks falling from the Chaos Crags could reach Manzanita Lake very quickly. Because of this, the Manzanita Lodge and cabins were closed and taken down.
However, in 1987, a new study showed that the rockfall wouldn't reach the lake after all. So, the area was reopened and fixed up. The lodge was never rebuilt, but the other historic buildings were saved. The Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 2006. This means it's a very important place in American history.
Images for kids
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Naturalist's residence, now the Discovery Center
