This early version of Indian Henry's Cabin from 1911, which was also known as the "Wigwam Hotel" by visitors at the time, was replaced by Indian Henry's Patrol Cabin in 1916.
Mount Rainier National Park Archives courtesy Ethen Allen
A number of contributing buildings in the park are not within any of the developed areas, including thirteen patrol cabins and trail shelters and four fire lookouts. Portions of Mount Rainier National Park’s master plan specifically addressed fire control and a need for a backcountry patrol system which necessitated some buildings to be scattered throughout the park instead of being along the main corridors. To accurately represent the master plan, which is the main justification for the national historic designation, these buildings and structures are included in the Mount Rainier National Park Historic Landmark District. Some of the cabins and shelters were also listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Patrol cabins are usually small log cabins with pitched roofs and sleeping lofts. Some cabins like the early Indian Henry’s Patrol Cabin (1916) were built of native wood and stone for expediency, but later ones reflect the design principles of the NPS Rustic style. During the early years of the park, patrol cabins were used as fire-fighting control centers, residences, emergency shelters, storehouses, equipment depots, and food caches by rangers performing these and other duties. While not used as extensively today, the patrol cabins still house rangers out performing backcountry work.
While trail shelters came in several varieties, most are built from logs or with stone with one open side (Adirondack-type shelter). Two shelters, Summerland (1934) and Indian Bar (1940) were built out of stone by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The supervisory landscape architect overseeing the construction of the Summerland Shelter remarked “the workmen were inexperienced in stonework and the shelter was not too good in appearance, but it was in harmony with its location”.
The enclosed square fire lookouts at Mount Rainier are typical for such structures built across the park service throughout the 1930s. In addition to the four remaining fire lookouts, four other fire lookouts that no longer exist were once located in the park. Anvil Rock Lookout was built in 1917 out of stone and operated by the US Forest Service in a cooperative agreement with the NPS. It was located at 9,585 feet near Camp Muir, but views were often blocked by cloud cover. It was replaced by a wooden structure in 1928 and fully removed in 1948. The Colonnades Lookout at 7,100 feet on the west side of the park was built in 1930 and replaced by Sunset Park Lookout in 1948 at a lower elevation. Sunset Park Lookout along with Crystal Peak Lookout on the northeast side of the park were removed in the 1960/70s after aerial surveillance replaced the need for fire lookouts in the 1950s. The four remaining fire lookouts still serve as backcountry ranger stations and occasional emergency fire detection viewpoints.
Contributing Buildings
Indian Henry's Patrol Cabin
Date Constructed: 1915-1916
Builder: Unknown
Located along the Wonderland Trail in Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground, this is the oldest backcountry ranger cabin in the park. The subalpine meadows in the area were visited often by the Nisqually and Cowlitz tribes. A mountain guide named Indian Henry, or Soo-Too-Lick, hunted a great deal in the meadows that bear his name.
Lake George Patrol Cabin
Date Constructed: 1921, 1934
Builder: National Park Service
The original Lake George Cabin was demolished in 1930 by bears that tore off one side to reach the kitchen and its food. It was replaced in 1934. Located at Lake George near Westside Road.
Builder: National Park Service/Civilian Conservation Corps
Located near Ipsut Creek Campground along Carbon River Trail (former road). The cabin was damaged during the 2006 Flood. It was deconstructed and rebuilt in a new location near Ipsut Creek Campground.
