Paradise Inn (Washington)

Infobox nrhp
name = Paradise Inn
nrhp_type = nhl

---

caption = The Paradise Inn
location = Mount Rainier National Park
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 46
lat_minutes = 47
lat_seconds = 5.93
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 121
long_minutes = 43
long_seconds = 57.51
long_direction = W
locmapin=Washington
area =
built = 1916
architect= Heath,Grove & Bell; Rainier National Park Co.
architecture= Other
designated = May 28, 1987cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2006&ResourceType=Building
title=Paradise |accessdate=2008-02-26|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = May 28, 1987cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 87001336
mpsub =
governing_body = NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Paradise Inn is a historic hotel built in 1916 at 5,400 feet (1,645 m) on the south slope of Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, United States. The inn is named after Paradise, the area on the mountain it is located. The 1966 Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center cite web
url = http://www.nps.gov/features/mora_cenn/sixties/sixties.htm
title = Mt. Rainier National Park Centennial Timeline 1960s
accessdate = 2007-05-22
year = 1999
work = Mount Rainier National Park Centennial Celebration
publisher = National Park Service
quote = 1966: The Paradise Visitor Center (in 1987 dedicated as the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center), is opened to the public in September.] and the 1920 Paradise Guide House are also at this location. The inn and guide house are where many climbers start their ascent of the mountain. The inn is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

History

The inn was designed by Frederick Heath of Heath and Gove in 1915. It was initially planned to be built at Longmire. The National Park Service moved the planned location to Paradise when the original financier, John Reese, backed away from the project. The inn was built by the Rainier National Park Company, founded by Steven T. Mather, assistant to the Secretary of the Interior. cite book
last = Barnes
first = Christine
coauthors = Pfulghoft, Fred (Photographer); Morris, David (Photographer)
title = Great Lodges of the National Parks: The Companion Book to the PBS Television Series
publisher = W W West
date = April 2002
pages = pp. 48 – 57
id = ISBN 0-9653924-5-7 ] cite book
last = Scott
first = Kay W.
coauthors = Scott, David L.
title = The Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges, 3rd
publisher = Globe Pequot
date = February 2002
pages = pp. 195 – 197
id = ISBN 0-7627-1197-3 ]

Native building materials were used including cedar shingles, native rock and weathered timbers salvaged from a fire in 1885. After 30 years of aging the timbers had developed an unusual silver sheen. The original plan called for a red roof but the Park Service vetoed this in favor of a green roof which blended in with the natural environment. This is in keeping with the National Park Service Rustic style of architecture. The inn opened on July 1, 1917 and cost between US$90,000 and US$100,000.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Architecture in the Parks (Paradise Inn)
publisher = National Park Service
date = February 2001
url = http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/harrison/harrison11.htm
accessdate = 2007-01-02 ] cite web
last = Tweed
first = William C.
coauthors = Soulliere, Laura E.; Law, Henry G.
title = Rustic Architecture: 1916 - 1942
publisher = National Park Service
date = February 1977
url = http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/rusticarch/
accessdate = 2007-01-02 ]

In 1920 a four story Paradise Annex was added. It was designed by Harlan Thomas and contained 100 rooms, 85 with private baths.

In 1931 a golf course was built at the lodge and in 1936 a ski rope tow was installed.

In 1942 to 1943 the US Army used the inn to house troops training for winter mountain conditions.

The extreme elements took its toll on the inn. In 1952 the Rainier National Park Company sold the inn to the National Park Service who contracted with concessionaires to operate the inn. The Park Service considered demolishing the inn but relented after a public outcry. US$ 1.75 million was spent in 1979 to strengthen and restore the building.

The building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/harrison/harrison11.htm |title="Architecture in the Parks: A National Historic Landmark Theme Study: Paradise Inn", by Laura Soullière Harrison |accessdate=2008-02-26|work=National Historic Landmark Theme Study|publisher=National Park Service] citation|title=PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/87001336.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Paradise Inn] |32 KB|date=1985 |author=Laura Soullière Harrison |publisher=National Park Service and PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/87001336.pdf "Accompanying 32 photos, exterior and interior, from 1985"] |32 KB]

Architecture

The original building is two stories tall. Two rooms, the great hall and the dining room take up most of the ground floor. A three story section on the building's east side makes the building a T-shape and contains additional guest rooms.

The great hall is 50 by 112 feet (15 m by 34 m) and has a wrap-around mezzanine level. There is are 4 by 6 feet (1.2 m by 1.8 m) stone fireplace at both ends of the room. The mezzanine level was added in 1925.

The dining room is 51 by 105 feet (15.5 m by 32 m) and has a 50 feet (15 m) high stone fireplace. The original guest rooms are above the dining room and are only 8 by 8 feet (2.4 m by 2.4 m). Each one fits between a set of rafters which support the roof.

Hans Fraehnke, a German born carpenter created furniture from local materials for the inn including a two 1,500 pound (680 kg) tables, a 14 feet (4 m) tall grandfather clock and a rustic piano which President Harry S. Truman played on during a visit to the inn in 1945. More tables and chairs are from the Old Hickory Company of Indiana.

Two Year Closure

The inn was closed in 2006 for two years to perform renovations and structural work to allow the inn to withstand a large earthquake. This was done as part of a $30 million USD project which also included the groundbreaking for a new visitor center at Paradise. The inn was reopened in May 2008. The new visitor center is not yet complete as of July, 2008. cite news
last = Carlton Harrell
first = Debera
title = Mount Rainier's Paradise Inn to undergo a two-year face-lift
work = The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
date = October 11, 2005
url = http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/244142_lodge11.html
accessdate = 2007-01-02 ] cite news
last = Renée Casavant
first = Vanessa
title = Paradise Inn to close for two years
work = The Seattle Times
date = September 8, 2005
url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=paradiseinn08m&date=20050908
accessdate = 2007-01-02 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/paradise.htm Mount Rainier National Park - Paradise (U.S. National Park Service)] - Paradise area of the National Park from the National Park Service.
* [http://www.nps.gov/archive/mora/ParConst/default.htm Paradise Construction Projects | Mount Rainier National Park] - Construction at the inn and the Jackson Visitor Center.
* [http://rainier.guestservices.com/ Welcome to Mt. Rainier National Park] - website of Guest Services, Inc., the concessionaire who runs the inn.