- Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater
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Moraine Park Museum and AmphitheaterMoraine Park Museum
Nearest city: Estes Park, Colorado Coordinates: 40°21′31″N 105°35′2″W / 40.35861°N 105.58389°WCoordinates: 40°21′31″N 105°35′2″W / 40.35861°N 105.58389°W Built: 1923 Architect: National Park Service; Civilian Conservation Corps Architectural style: Other Governing body: National Park Service MPS: Rocky Mountain National Park MPS NRHP Reference#: Lodge 76000206, expanded 05000602 Added to NRHP: Lodge October 8, 1976, expanded June 15, 2005[1] The Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater, also known as the Moraine Park Lodge and the Moraine Park Visitor Center, are located in Moraine Park, a glaciated meadow between two moraines in Rocky Mountain National Park.[2]
The two structures were built to serve visitors to the park, and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum was built in 1923 by Imogene Green MacPherson as the center of her private tourist development, and was then known as the Moraine Park Lodge. The National Park Service purchased the property in 1931 and demolished the surrounding cabins in following years. The amphitheater was designed and built in 1935, with the design by the NPS Branch of Plans and Designs and the construction by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lodge was reworked in 1934-35. Both structures adhere to the National Park Service Rustic design ethic of the time, with stone and log construction.[3][4]
Imogene Green MacPherson first homesteaded the site in Moraine Park in 1903, naming the land "Hillcrest". In 1905, newly married, she expanded with a lodge, dining hall, stable and some cabins for guests. Paying guest began to arrive in 1910. Mrs. MacPherson continued to operate the resort after the death of her husband in 1919, and was involved in the campaign for the establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park. After her death in 1928, her family continued to run the lodge until its purchase by the Park Service.[5]
The amphitheater is built about one hundred feet from the lodge, with seating interspersed with trees. A projection booth and screen once existed, but were removed. An elaborate arrangement of stone gutters and culverts provides drainage.
The Moraine Park Lodge adjoins the William Allen White Cabins historic district.
The museum features interactive natural history exhibits, with themes including geologic processes, glaciation, weather and climate, ecosystems, and human impact. The park offers environmental education programs based on similar themes. The lodge building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 8, 1976. The listing was expanded to include the amphitheater on June 15, 2005.[1]
See Also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Larimer County, Colorado
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ http://allrockymountain.com/nature/moraine_park.php Moraine Park
- ^ "Moraine Park Museum". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. 2008-12-15. http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?STATE=CO&PARK=ROMO&STRUCTURE=&SORT=&RECORDNO=66.
- ^ "Moraine Park Museum Amphitheater". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. 2008-12-15. http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?STATE=CO&PARK=ROMO&STRUCTURE=&SORT=&RECORDNO=1.
- ^ Cheri Yost (March 14, 2005). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater (additional documentation)PDF (1.81 MB). National Park Service.
External links
- Official information on all the park's visitor centers and museum
- Moraine Park Museum - information and education programs
- Moraine Park Museum & Amphitheater - information and photos
- museum description
- Moraine Lodge, Bear Lake Road, Estes Park vicinity, Larimer County, CO: 8 photos, 12 data pages, 1 photo caption page, at Historic American Building Survey
National Register of Historic Places in Rocky Mountain National Park National Historic Landmarks Other historic districts Fall River Entrance Historic District | Holzwarth Historic District | McGraw Ranch | Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater | Rocky Mountain National Park Utility Area Historic District | William Allen White Cabins | Beatrice Willard Alpine Tundra Research Plots
Other properties Bear Lake Comfort Station | Dutchtown | East Inlet Trail | East Longs Peak Trail-Longs Peak Trail-Keyhole Route-Shelf Trail | Fall River Pass Ranger Station | Fall River Pump House and Catchment Basin | Fall River Road | Fern Lake Patrol Cabin | Fern Lake Trail | | Flattop Mountain Trail Gem Lake Trail | Glacier Basin Campground Ranger Station | Grand River Ditch | Lake Haiyaha Trail | Leiffer House | Lost Lake Trail | Lulu City Site | Milner Pass Road Camp Mess Hall and House | Moraine Lodge | North Inlet Trail | Shadow Mountain Lookout | Shadow Mountain Trail | Snogo Snow Plow | Thunder Lake Patrol Cabin | Thunder Lake Trail-Bluebird Lake Trail | Timber Creek Campground Comfort Station No. 245 | Timber Creek Road Camp Barn | Timberline Cabin | Tonahutu Creek Trail | Trail Ridge Road | Twin Sisters Lookout | Agnes Vaille Shelter | Wild Basin House | Wild Basin Ranger Station | Willow Park Patrol Cabin | Willow Park Stable | Ypsilon Lake Trail
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