Norris, Madison, and Fishing Bridge Museums facts for kids
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Norris, Madison, and Fishing Bridge Museums
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Clockwise from left: Fishing Bridge, Madison, Norris
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| Location | Norris Geyser Basin, Madison Junction, and Fishing Bridge, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | Herbert Maier |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001445 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1987 |
| Designated NHLD | May 28, 1987 |
The Norris, Madison, and Fishing Bridge Museums are three special buildings inside Yellowstone National Park in the western United States. They are sometimes called "trailside museums" because they are located along trails. These museums were built in 1929 and designed by an architect named Herbert Maier. They are great examples of an old building style called National Park Service Rustic. This style became a model for many other park buildings built in the 1930s. In 1987, these three museums together were named a National Historic Landmark, which means they are very important historical places.
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Exploring the Historic Museums
These three important museums are the Norris Museum (44°43′35″N 110°42′12″W / 44.72639°N 110.70333°W), the Madison Museum (44°38′32″N 110°51′43.7″W / 44.64222°N 110.862139°W), and the Fishing Bridge Museum (44°33′47″N 110°22′40″W / 44.563028°N 110.377694°W). The Madison and Norris Museums are about 14 miles (23 km) apart. The Fishing Bridge Museum is much farther away, more than 40 miles (64 km) by road from the other two.
All three buildings were designed by architect Herbert Maier. He used a special building style known as National Park Service Rustic. This style makes buildings look like they belong in nature.
The National Park Service Rustic Style
The National Park Service Rustic style uses natural materials. You can see rubble stone and walls covered with wood shingles. The roofs are often gabled, meaning they have two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. They also have clipped ends, which means the very top corners of the gables are cut off. Inside, you might find floors made of flat stones called flagstone. Large, peeled log posts are often used to hold up the roof. This style helps the buildings blend in with the beautiful park surroundings.
Maier's Influence on Park Architecture
Herbert Maier was an architect who worked for the American Association of Museums. He also worked for the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Foundation. Besides designing the museums in Yellowstone, he also designed buildings at the Grand Canyon. He also designed the National Park Service Southwest Regional Office. This office building is also a National Historic Landmark.
Maier was very important in spreading this type of architecture. His designs influenced buildings in many national and state parks. This was especially true for buildings created during the 1930s. Many jobs programs during the Great Depression helped build these structures.
See also
