Moran State Park
| Moran State Park | |
| Washington State Park | |
 Mountain Lake in Moran State Park | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Washington |
| County | San Juan |
| Elevation | 932 ft (284 m) [1] |
| Coordinates | 48°39′23″N 122°49′04″W / 48.65639°N 122.81778°WCoordinates: 48°39′23″N 122°49′04″W / 48.65639°N 122.81778°W [1] |
| Area | 5,579 acres (2,258 ha) |
| Established | 1921 |
| Management | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
  Location in the state of Washington
| |
| Website: Moran State Park | |
|
Moran State Park | |
 | |
|
Mt. Constitution observation tower | |
| 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 # | 12001140 |
| Added to NRHP | January 2, 2013 |
Moran State Park is a public recreation area on Orcas Island in Puget Sound's San Juan Islands in the state of Washington, United States.[2] The state park encompasses over 5,000 acres of various terrain including forests, wetlands, bogs, hills, and lakes. It is the largest public recreation area in the San Juan Islands and the fourth largest state park in the state. A park focal point is the observation tower atop Mount Constitution.[3] In 2013, the state park was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[4]
History
The park was originally the estate of Seattle mayor and shipbuilder Robert Moran. Due to poor health, Moran moved to Orcas Island and between 1906 and 1909 built his estate, which included a large mansion named Rosario. Wood and stone material found on the island were used to construct the estate's houses and buildings. In 1921, Moran gave a large portion of his property to the state of Washington for the creation of Moran State Park. The mansion and its grounds remain in private hands, operated as Rosario Resort and Spa.[5]
In August 1935, 28 men from the 4768th Company of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began constructing a stone observation tower atop 2,409-foot (734 m) Mount Constitution. Designed by noted Seattle architect Ellsworth Storey, the tower became the literal and figurative high point of eight years of work by crews from the CCC's Camp Moran.[6]
Activities and amenities
The park offers 38 miles of hiking trails, 11 miles of biking trails, horseback riding on 6 miles of trails, non-motorized boating from two boat ramps, and year-round camping. Camping facilities include 151 tent spaces in five camping areas, dump station, restrooms, and showers. The Mount Constitution observation tower commands sweeping marine views from the highest point in the San Juan Islands.[2]
Gallery
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Cascade Falls in Moran State Park
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Rustic Falls, on Cascade Creek, in Moran State Park
References
- 1 2 "Moran State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- 1 2 "Moran State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Mount Constitution". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Moran State Park" (PDF). National Park Service. January 2, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Rosario Resort and Spa". Retrieved January 12, 2015.
- ↑ MacIntosh, Heather M. (November 3, 1998). "Storey, Ellsworth Prime (1879-1960)". The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. HistoryLink. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
External links
- Moran State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
- Moran State Park Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
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