Moran State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moran State Park |
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Mountain Lake in Moran State Park
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 Moran State Park
Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | San Juan, Washington, United States |
| Area | 5,424 acres (21.95 km2) |
| Elevation | 932 ft (284 m) |
| Established | 1921 |
| Operator | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Website | Moran State Park |
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Moran State Park
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Mt. Constitution observation tower
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| Location | 3572 Olga Road, Olga, San Juan County Orcas Island, Washington |
| Built by | Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Architect | Civilian Conservation Corps; Storey, Ellsworth; Paterson, Jack |
| NRHP reference No. | 12001140 |
| Added to NRHP | January 2, 2013 |
Moran State Park is a huge park on Orcas Island in Washington state. It is part of the beautiful San Juan Islands in Puget Sound. This amazing park covers over 5,000 acres! It has many different types of land, like thick forests, wet areas, bogs, rolling hills, and clear lakes.
Moran State Park is the biggest public park in the San Juan Islands. It is also the fourth largest state park in all of Washington. A main attraction in the park is the observation tower on top of Mount Constitution. This mountain is the highest point in San Juan County, standing tall at 2,407 feet.
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Park History: How it Began
Robert Moran's Gift to Washington
Moran State Park was once the private property of a man named Robert Moran. He was a shipbuilder and a mayor of Seattle. Because of his health, Moran moved to Orcas Island. Between 1906 and 1909, he built his large estate there. He called his mansion "Rosario."
Moran used wood and stone from the island to build his estate's houses. In 1921, he generously gave a big part of his land to the state of Washington. This gift created Moran State Park for everyone to enjoy. The mansion and its grounds are still private today. They operate as the Rosario Resort and Spa.
Building the Mount Constitution Tower
In August 1935, a group of 28 men started working on the park. They were part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that gave jobs to young men. These men began building a stone observation tower on top of Mount Constitution.
The famous Seattle architect Ellsworth Storey designed the tower. This tower became a highlight of eight years of hard work by CCC crews. Their camp was called Camp Moran. The state park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.
Fun Activities at Moran State Park
Moran State Park offers many ways to have fun outdoors. It has more than 30 miles of trails. You can use these trails for hiking, biking, or even horseback riding.
Boating and Camping Adventures
If you love water, you can go non-motorized boating from two boat ramps. This means you can use kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards. The park also has five different camping areas. You can camp there all year round!
Views from Mount Constitution Tower
The observation tower on Mount Constitution offers amazing views. From the highest point in the San Juan Islands, you can see sweeping ocean views. It is a great spot to take photos and enjoy nature.
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Cascade Falls
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Rustic Falls on Cascade Creek
Supporting Moran State Park
The "Friends of Moran" is a group that helps the park. They raise money for things the park needs. They also run a small gift shop at the top of Mount Constitution. This volunteer group also organizes park cleanups and events to make the park even better.
Images for kids
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Mountain Lake in Moran State Park
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Mt. Constitution observation tower
