Sunrise Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sunrise Historic District
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Sunrise Lodge
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Mt. Rainier National Park |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Rustic style |
| MPS | Mt. Rainier National Park MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000175 |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 1991 |
The Sunrise Historic District is a special area located high up on a ridge overlooking the northeast side of Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park. It's about 6,400 feet (1,950 meters) above sea level! This district has seven unique buildings. They were all designed in a special way called the National Park Service Rustic style. This style makes buildings look like they fit right into nature. You can only visit Sunrise during a short time in the summer when the snow has melted.
Contents
Planning the Sunrise Area
The area was first known as Yakima Park. It became easier to reach when a new road was built in the park's northeastern part. This road was planned by Ernest A. Davidson from the National Park Service Landscape Division. He worked with the Bureau of Public Roads.
Davidson created a big plan for Yakima Park. This was different from other areas like Paradise and Longmire. In those places, buildings were put up without much planning. This caused problems. Davidson's plan for Sunrise included a large hotel and many small cabins for visitors. It also had a gas station, restrooms, and unique buildings called blockhouses and a stockade.
The first buildings were finished in 1932. These included the first part of the Sunrise Lodge, the Sunrise Comfort Station, the service station, the South Blockhouse, and the Stockade. The North Blockhouse and the Community Building were finished later, in 1944.
Important Buildings
Sunrise Lodge
The Sunrise Lodge is a large building with a steep roof. It was built in 1931 by the Rainier National Park Company. This 2-1/2 story building was meant to be the first part of a much bigger hotel. It was built very quickly, in about six weeks.
The lodge was the main building for a complex that included 200 tourist cabins. The lodge had dining areas and rooms for staff. Over time, the cabins were removed between the late 1930s and 1940s. Some were sold to farmers, and others were moved to areas around Puget Sound. Plans for another part of the hotel were started, but never finished. The lodge still operates today during the summer season.
Other Structures
The district also includes other important buildings. These are the Sunrise Comfort Station, the service station, and the unique blockhouses and stockade. These buildings all share the same rustic design style.
Protecting Sunrise's History
The Sunrise area was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 31, 1991. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States. The Yakima Park Stockade Group was named a National Historic Landmark on May 29, 1987. This is an even higher level of historical importance.
The Sunrise Comfort Station was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991. The entire Sunrise Historic District is part of the larger Mount Rainier National Historic Landmark District. This means the whole park is recognized for its many buildings designed in the Park Service rustic style.
Climate at Sunrise
Sunrise is located high up in the mountains, so it has a unique climate. Winters are very cold with lots of snow. Temperatures often stay below freezing. Summers are short and cool, but they are the only time the area is usually open to visitors. The warmest months are July and August. The area gets a lot of rain and snow, especially in the winter months.
