White River Entrance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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White River Entrance
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | White River Entrance, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington |
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| Area | 4.9 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Rustic style |
| MPS | Mt. Rainier National Park MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000177 |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 1991 |
The White River Entrance is a special group of buildings at Mount Rainier National Park. These buildings were put up between 1929 and 1931. They were made to welcome visitors coming into the park on the Yakima Park Highway.
Most buildings in Mount Rainier National Park, including these, are built in the National Park Service Rustic style. This means they use natural materials like stone and logs. The area also includes the Men's Mess Hall and Dormitory from 1933. This building is thought to be the only one left that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the park. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that put young men to work on important projects.
Contents
Exploring the Ranger Station
The most important building at the White River Entrance is the Ranger and Checking Station. Its construction began in 1929. Getting materials to the site was tough because the Yakima Park Highway wasn't finished yet. The station was fully completed in 1931.
Building Design and Features
The National Park Service's design team created the plans for the station. Thomas Chalmers Vint helped oversee the work. The station is a one-story building shaped like a "T." It is made of logs and has seven rooms.
A special covered entrance, called a porte-cochere, extends over the road. This allowed cars to pull up under cover. The White River station was the first to use this design. The building had living and working spaces for a park ranger. It included two bedrooms, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room.
Other Buildings and History
Close to the Ranger Station, "comfort stations" were built in 1931. These are public restrooms for visitors. They were also built in the same natural, rustic style.
A Place of Historic Importance
The White River Entrance area was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991. This list includes places important to American history. The entire Mount Rainier National Park is also a National Historic Landmark District. This means the park's many rustic buildings, designed by the Park Service, are recognized as very important.
