Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District

Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Loomis Art House
Location	39489 CA 44, Shingletown, California
Coordinates	40°32′10″N 121°33′44″W / 40.53611°N 121.56222°WCoordinates: 40°32′10″N 121°33′44″W / 40.53611°N 121.56222°W
Area	85 acres (34 ha)
Built	1927
Architectural style	Renaissance, Other, NPS Rustic
MPS	Lassen Volcanic National Park MPS
NRHP Reference #	06000525[1]
Added to NRHP	June 23, 2006

The Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District encompasses the historic area devoted to visitor interpretation services at the northwest entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The district's earliest structures were built by Benjamin and Estella Loomis, who were instrumental in the establishment of the park and among the park's first concessioners. The 1927 Loomis Museum and its seismograph hut were built by the Loomises and were donated, together with 40 acres (16 ha) of land to the National Park Service in 1929.^[2] The Loomis House, also known as the Loomis Art House and Manzanita Lake Ranger Station, was built about the same time as the museum and served as their residence, photography studio and shop until the 1950s under the name "B.F. Loomis Photo and Art Store".^[3][4]

Park Service structures were developed at Manzanita Lake in the 1930s. Park Service-designed and constructed buildings include the entrance station (1930), the ranger residence (1931) and the comfort station (1931). The naturalist's residence (1933) shares a similar design to its counterparts at Crater Lake National Park, with their design and construction techniques adapted to the short building seasons prevalent at both parks.^[5] The residence was built using Civilian Conservation Corps labor.^[6]

The area was abandoned in 1973 after a geological report indicated that a rockfall in the Chaos Crags could reach the Manzanita Lake area in 90 seconds. The Manzanita Lodge and cabins were therefore closed and demolished. In 1987 a reassessment indicated that such a rockfall could not reach Manzanita Lake and the area was reoccupied and renovated. The lodge was never rebuilt.^[7] The Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 2006.^[1]

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  Naturalist's residence, now the Discovery Center

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  Loomis Museum

References

1. Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. Chappell, Gordon (October 21, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Loomis Visitor Center" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
3. "Loomis Art House". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
4. Emmons, Ann; Catton, Ted (February 2004). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form: Lassen Volcanic National Park Multiple Property Listing" (PDF). National Park Service. p. 53. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
5. Kaiser, Harvey H. (2008). The National Park Architecture Sourcebook. Princeton Architectural Press. pp. 65–67. ISBN 978-1-56898-742-2.
6. "Park Naturalist's Residence". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
7. Multiple Property Submission, p. 68