Crater Lake National Park Administrative History

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

While Crater Lake National Park did not provide organized interpretive or educational activities until 1926, some efforts were made in the early 1920s to provide visitors with information on the natural history of the park. In 1922, for instance, Superintendent Sparrow observed that an "ever-increasing interest in nature studies is manifested by visitors to the park, and a book on the botany of the park, giving descriptions and illustrations that would enable the layman, as well as scientific botanists, to identify the various flowers and trees, is in demand." [1]

In 1924 Superintendent Thomson made provision for the University of Oregon to assign F. Lyle Wynd, a 22-year-old student, to conduct nature studies at Crater Lake. He initiated "a study of willows as to the availability of feed for ruminants" in the various valleys of the park. Besides conducting the study in 1924 and 1925 Wynd served, according to Thomson, as a "flunkey," becoming generally acquainted with the park flora, fauna, and geology. [2]

Organized interpretive activities, or educational/naturalist services as they were first called, were commenced at Crater Lake National Park during the summer of 1926. At the request of Ansel Hall, chief naturalist of the National Park Service, Dr. Loye Miller, an eminent naturalist from the University of California, organized such services which extended from July 1 to August 15. Miller, who had helped initiate an educational program at Yosemite, was appointed as acting park naturalist. He was assisted at Crater Lake by his son Alden H. Miller and two students, Leigh M. Larson and Ruth Randall, the latter two acting as volunteers in charge of wildflower displays. Some years later Miller would reminisce humorously about his early experiences at Crater Lake:

Just as had been the case at Yosemite, we were appointed as rangers. My duties at Crater Lake included Nature Guiding, directing traffic, comforting crying babies, rounding up stray dogs, and a wild drive down the mountain to Medford Hospital with a writhing appendicitis patient and his distracted wife in the rear seat. [3]

The embryonic naturalist staff was stationed in Rim Village with headquarters in the Community House. In addition to manning the visitor information desk in that building the staff prepared a series of exhibits, including a fifty-specimen bird collection, a small rock collection, and a plant display featuring thirty species of wildflowers and six conifers. The staff also began printing "Park Nature Notes" for distribution to park visitors.

During 1926 the staff headed by Miller made personal contacts with more than 6,000 visitors. Nightly lectures (except Sunday) were given at Crater Lake Lodge and the Community House on such subjects as the geologic history of the Cascade Range, formation of Mt. Mazama and Crater Lake, glacial action in the park, geology of Llao Rock, history of Wizard Island, forest trees and diseases, flora and fauna of the area, and lantern slides of the Cascades and Crater Lake. Daily guided "field excursions" (except Monday) began at the Community House and went on various routes: both directions along the rim; through the meadows toward Government Camp; along the old road east of the lodge leading toward Government Camp; and through the forest back of the Community House. [4]

The Nature Guide Service, as it came to be called, was continued by Miller in 1927. He was assisted by his son, who was promoted to temporary ranger naturalist, and Leigh Merriam-Larson, a volunteer assistant. That year Superintendent Thomson reported:

This work is, beyond question, the most popular and worthwhile service ever accomplished at Crater Lake, and I am hopeful of seeing its usefulness expanded by more adequate personnel and at least some minor equipment.

The naturalist program remained much as it had the previous year except that daily field excursions were commenced at the lodge to promote greater visitor participation. [5]

During 1927 initial discussions were held concerning establishment of an observation point on the rim of the lake that would serve educational purposes. Those participating in the discussions were Superintendent Thomson, Miller, and Dr. J.C. Merriam, president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Miller recommended that the observation point or station "should be architecturally in harmony with the adjacent landscape" and located "at Victor Rock or at some other strategic point near by." The station should be educational, inspirational, and informative and "should utilize the unique features of the park in such way that they would convey their own message with a minimum of assistance from simply worded statements." The "matters presented should be few" and "mainly geological in nature." Such points should include: Llao Rock, Wizard Island, Devil's Backbone, Dutton Cliff, Feeder Dikes (with. telescope), glacial valleys, and the Cascade Range with its studding cones. The idea of time "should be stressed to emphasize the fact that the present is a result of continuous processes that are still in action." The geological processes were "intimately related with the biologic," and thus flora and fauna issues should be given attention at the station. Research and field data collection should be conducted by authorities in the field, and provision should be made for the periodic residence of such experts in the park. These discussions set the stage for the eventual construction of the Sinnott Memorial in 1931. [6]

Meanwhile the park educational program in 1928 was placed in charge of Acting Park Naturalist Earl V. Homuth, a professor of biology at the University of California, San Diego. The summer activities, which extended from July 1 to August 22, included:

Field Trips -- 38 (attendance 590)
Lectures -- 76 (attendance 4,880)
Contacts (Rim, Lodge, Community House) -- over 5,000

Three issues of 100 copies each of "Nature Notes" were printed to supplement the lectures and guided field trips. [7]

In 1929 the park information department, as it was referred to, was again in charge of Acting Park Naturalist Homuth, assisted by one temporary ranger naturalist and two volunteer assistants. Some 65,000 free government leaflets were distributed at the information office and temporary museum in the Community House and park ranger stations during the summer. The leaflets had been prepared by Homuth and his staff and covered topics such as geology, wildlife, and natural history in the park. Two lectures were given each evening, one at the temporary museum and one at the lodge. A total of 94 lectures were given to some 11,235 park visitors. In addition some 53 guided tours were conducted daily "over areas about the rim," a total of fifty such trips being made during the summer with an attendance of 1,277.

A natural wildflower garden named Castle Crest Garden was established near Government Camp in 1929. Some 200 species of park flowers were planted in the garden, and regularly scheduled tours were conducted through it. Metal labels were placed along the trail to identify the various plants. In addition a labelled nature trail was established along the rim from the lodge to a new lookout point some 1.3 miles westward. [8]

During the summer of 1929 a "Plan of Administration of the Educational Activities of Crater Lake National Park" was prepared by NPS Chief Naturalist Ansel F. Hall, Acting Park Naturalist Earl V. Homuth, and Superintendent Solinsky. The plan, which was approved by NPS Director Albright on August 10, included a brief statement of the principles of current operation which was to serve as an informative guide for the immediate use of the park educational staff and as a basis for developing a long-range administrative program to govern the expanding park educational program. The plan was based on the previous years experience of the park educational staff as well as the insights gained by the staffs of other parks where educational activities had been developed more completely.

The plan outlined the staffing requirements for the park educational program. It called for the hiring of a permanent year-round park naturalist to administer the program as soon as possible. The existing staff consisted of an acting park naturalist (temporary summer appointment), two ranger naturalists (temporary summer appointments), and one volunteer assistant. The educational staff would continue to have its offices in Community House.

The responsibilities of persons serving in these positions were outlined in the plan. Aside from administering the park educational program the major duties of the park naturalist were to include museum and library development, writing and editing park publications, compilation of scientific research data on the park, and arrangement for special services to park visitors.

The ranger naturalists were chosen for their training in the natural sciences and their ability to present information to the public. Their duties included conducting field trips, delivering lectures, dispensing information, and serving in the park museum. Provision was made for employment of volunteer assistants to conduct special studies and undertake other projects in support of the park's educational activities.

The plan detailed the level of existing educational activities for the public at Crater Lake. There were four guided field trips: Watchman Trail (1-1/2 hours), Trail to Lake Shore (2-1/2 hours), Garfield Peak (3 hours), and Bell Canyon (2-1/2 hours). Lectures were presented at the Community House and Crater Lake Lodge each night except Sunday. The museum and general information office at the Community House was open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Rim information service was provided daily (noon to 5 p.m.) by a ranger naturalist. Other educational activities included maintenance of the wildflower garden and the sale and distribution of park publications.

In addition the plan listed six new permanent projects which would form the nucleus of park educational efforts during the next several years. These were:

1. Collection and installation of exhibits in the museum.

2. Installation of view finders, exhibits, and information data in lookout stations at Victor Rock and on Watchman Trail.

3. Labeling and maintenance of nature trails--Rim Trail, Trail to Lake, Bell Canyon Trail to Wild Flower Garden, and Garfield Trail.

4. Development, labeling, and maintenance of wildflower gardens--Castle Crest Garden and Rim Garden.

5. Educational staff publications--Nature Notes (monthly), Natural History Leaflets, Park Manual of Information (cumulative), and Manual of Instruction for Educational Workers.

6. Establishment and maintenance of a park library. [9]

The position of park naturalist was made permanent by the 1931 fiscal year appropriation act. Homuth, who had served as acting park naturalist on a seasonal basis since 1928, was named to fill that position. [10] Because of illness, however, he was forced to resign suddenly in July 1930. F. Lyle Wynd, ranger naturalist, was appointed to assume temporary charge of the park's educational activities. In an effort to help the fledgling program Dr. Harold C. Bryant, assistant NPS director for educational activities, visited the park that summer.

Increasing numbers of visitors participated in the park educational programs during 1930. Some 107 evening lectures were presented to 10,310 people at the lodge and Community House. The lectures at the latter were illustrated with lantern slides and moving pictures. Some 2,330 persons participated in 112 field trips, two of which were taken to various sections of the park each day.