Historic Sunrise Area

South Blockhouse of the Sunrise Stockade, 1930.

Mount Rainier National Park Archives

The Sunrise Area, also known as Yakima Park, was originally listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 1991. Its period of significance is from 1929-1944, when the Sunrise Area was developed as part of a carefully planned effort to bring tourism to the east side of the park. The design of the Sunrise area departs from the precedents of the Longmire Area, instead being inspired by early territorial outposts of the Pacific Northwest. Two “blockhouses”, a visitor center, and a stockade fence that hides the area’s utility yard are collectively known as the Yakima Park Stockade Group. The Stockade Group is separately designated as a National Historic Landmark for its architectural significance. When Mount Rainier National Park was designated, the historic Sunrise Area designation was expanded to include the plaza (parking lot), picnic area, the spur road to powerhouse and powerhouse itself, and an overlook structure.

The Rainier National Park Company concessionaire had a very ambitious development scheme for the area as well, but the stock market crash of 1929 affected the company’s economic resources and their plan had to be scaled back. Only one wing of the proposed concessioner’s lodge for Yakima Park, the Sunrise Day Lodge, was completed. It served as a cafeteria and support building for over 200 tourist cabins that stood in straight rows on the flat area immediately behind the lodge. The cabins were sold and removed during World War II. All the remaining buildings in the Sunrise Area are contributing structures and the Sunrise Area retains the highest degree of historic integrity of all the developed areas in the park.

National Register of Historic Places: Sunrise Historic District

 

Contributing Structures

• Parking Lot

  • Date Constructed: 1931
  • Builder: National Park Service

• Stockade

  • Date Constructed: 1930s
  • Builder: National Park Service
  • A 12-foot-tall, timber fence made of whole Western red cedar logs with an entrance gate of Alaska yellow cedar half logs. Encloses a maintenance and storage area.

• Overlooks

  • Date Constructed: 1930s
  • Builder: National Park Service
  • In 1931, a scenic parapet of native basalt was constructed along the Burroughs Mountain Trail overlooking the White River Valley. A second stone parapet was added in 1932 overlooking the Emmons Glacier just south of the plaza. This is now known as the First Emmons Vista Overlook along the Silver Forest Trail. A rustic stone and log trailside exhibit (now a covered bench) at the Second Emmons Vista Overlook was completed in 1940 by the CCC.

• Power House

  • Date Constructed: 1932
  • Builder: National Park Service
  • Architect: T.C. Vint
  • Historically housed two diesel generators that provide electricity to Sunrise.

 

Contributing Buildings

• Comfort Station

  • Date Constructed: 1930
  • Builder: National Park Service
  • Located next to the Sunrise Day Lodge.

• South Blockhouse

  • Date Constructed: 1930
  • Builder: National Park Service
  • Architect: T.C. Vint, Davidson
  • Part of Yakima Park Stockade Group National Historic Landmark. One of the first buildings constructed, it served as an interpretive center and ranger station until the visitor center was built in 1943. Currently serves as employee housing.

• Service Station

  • Date Constructed: 1931
  • Builder: National Park Service
  • In operation until at least 1983, but currently unused.

• Sunrise Day Lodge

  • Date Constructed: 1931
  • Builder: Rainier National Park Company
  • Historically the lodge provided services to 215 overnight cabins with a cafeteria and concessionaire employee housing. The cabins were removed during WWII, but it still serves day visitors with a cafeteria/gift shop and has concessionaire employee housing.

• Sunrise Visitor Center

  • Date Constructed: 1943
  • Builder: National Park Service
  • Architect: T.C. Vint, Davidson
  • Park of Yakima Park Stockade Group National Historic Landmark. The stone fireplace and chimney were added in 1952.

• North Blockhouse

  • Date Constructed: 1944
  • Builder: National Park Service
  • Architect: T.C. Vint, Davidson
  • Park of Yakima Park Stockade Group National Historic Landmark. Currently serves as employee housing.

 

 

 

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