Comfort Station No. 68
Encyclopedia
Comfort Station No. 68 is a historic visitor services building in Crater Lake National Park
in southern Oregon
, United States
. It was built to provide public showers and restrooms for park visitors. It was constructed in the National Park Service Rustic
style of architecture, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1988.
The building is a one-story, wood-frame structure with native stones applied to the exterior. The structure rests on a stone foundation. It has a wooden-shake roof with extended eaves and exposed rafter at each end. Entrances are centered on the gable ends with windows on the north and south side. The original design included a central stone chimney, however, that feature was removed. Despite the alteration, the Plaza Comfort Station retains its original rustic character. Today, it is one of the main buildings in the Rim Village plaza area. In 1988, the Plaza Comfort Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Comfort Station No. 68 (NRHP #88002624).
signed the bill making Crater Lake the nation's sixth national park
. The United States Department of the Interior
was charged with developing visitor services in the park. The National Park Service
approved a master plan for development of Rim Village in 1927. Implementation of the plan was overseen by the National Park Service’s Landscape Engineering Division, headed by Thomas C. Vint. Over the next fourteen years, Crater Lake's infrastructure was developed in accordance with the park's master plan. As a result, park buildings from this era reflect a common character consistent with National Park Service's rustic design style. The Plaza Comfort Station was an element of the master plan.
Between 1933 and 1941, the Civilian Conservation Corps
maintained two work camps in Crater Lake National Park. Civilian Conservation Corps personnel worked on facility construction projects throughout the park. The Plaza Comfort Station was one of the Rim Village buildings they constructed with the help of park staff. The building was completed in 1938.
Today, the Plaza Comfort Station is one of the six main buildings in Rim Village. Five of these are original structures; however, all six reflect the rustic style of architecture which is the common design theme that makes the Rim Village historically unique. Because these structures still reflect the rustic design character of the original National Park Service master plan, Rim Village
was listed as a historic district
on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is a United States National Park located in southern Oregon. Established in 1902, Crater Lake National Park is the sixth oldest national park in the United States and the only one in the state of Oregon...
in southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was built to provide public showers and restrooms for park visitors. It was constructed in the National Park Service Rustic
National Park Service Rustic
National Park Service rustic, also colloquially known as Parkitecture, is a style of architecture that arose in the United States National Park System to create buildings that harmonized with their natural environment. Since its founding, the National Park Service consistently has sought to provide...
style of architecture, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1988.
Structure
The Plaza Comfort Station (building 68) is located in Rim Village in Crater Lake National Park. It was built to provide public showers and restrooms for park visitors. It is located on the east side of the Rim Village plaza area.The building is a one-story, wood-frame structure with native stones applied to the exterior. The structure rests on a stone foundation. It has a wooden-shake roof with extended eaves and exposed rafter at each end. Entrances are centered on the gable ends with windows on the north and south side. The original design included a central stone chimney, however, that feature was removed. Despite the alteration, the Plaza Comfort Station retains its original rustic character. Today, it is one of the main buildings in the Rim Village plaza area. In 1988, the Plaza Comfort Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Comfort Station No. 68 (NRHP #88002624).
History
On May 22, 1902, President Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
signed the bill making Crater Lake the nation's sixth national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
. The United States Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
was charged with developing visitor services in the park. The National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
approved a master plan for development of Rim Village in 1927. Implementation of the plan was overseen by the National Park Service’s Landscape Engineering Division, headed by Thomas C. Vint. Over the next fourteen years, Crater Lake's infrastructure was developed in accordance with the park's master plan. As a result, park buildings from this era reflect a common character consistent with National Park Service's rustic design style. The Plaza Comfort Station was an element of the master plan.
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
maintained two work camps in Crater Lake National Park. Civilian Conservation Corps personnel worked on facility construction projects throughout the park. The Plaza Comfort Station was one of the Rim Village buildings they constructed with the help of park staff. The building was completed in 1938.
Today, the Plaza Comfort Station is one of the six main buildings in Rim Village. Five of these are original structures; however, all six reflect the rustic style of architecture which is the common design theme that makes the Rim Village historically unique. Because these structures still reflect the rustic design character of the original National Park Service master plan, Rim Village
Rim Village Historic District
Rim Village is the main area for tourist services in Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon, United States. It is located on the southwest rim of the caldera overlooking Crater Lake. The National Park Service designed Rim Village to concentrate park services at a location that provided easy...
was listed as a historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.