Craters of the Moon
National Monument

75th Anniversary Celebration


TIME LINE
Time Line


(Before
Recorded
History)

2,000 years ago a volcanic
eruption creates the
Broken Top Flow.
Broken Top Flow

2,000 years ago the Shoshone
built rock rings at
Indian Tunnel.
Shoshone rock rings


1805

Lewis and Clark cross northern
Idaho enroute to the Pacific Ocean.
Lewis and Clark


1830

John Work and a brigade of fur trappers
nearly perish trying to cross the
Snake River Plain from south to north.
John Work


1833

Army Captain Benjamin Bonneville explores
the area with instructions to report back
his findings to the War Department.
Captain Bonneville


1862

Tim Goodale leads 820 emigrants, 338 wagons,
and about 1,4000 head of livestock
across a cutoff of the Oregon Trail
that came to bear his name.
Goodale's Cutoff


1901

Israel Russell with the Geological Survey
explores the area and provides the first
geologic description of what he calls
the Cinder Buttes.
Cinder Buttes


1920

Robert Limbert hikes the entire length of the Great Rift
and widely promotes the region
for status as a national park.
Robert Limbert


1923

Harold Sterns, a geologist, describes the area as
the most recent example of a
fissure eruption in this country and recommends
it be preserved as a national monument.
Harold Sterns


1924

Limbert's article "Among the Craters of the Moon"
is published in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE.
National Geographic

President Calvin Coolidge signs a proclamation
creating Craters of the Moon National Monument.
Monument created


1925

First custodian Samuel Paisley constructs the first
visitor center near Registration Waterhole
and receives a salary of $12 per year.
Samuel Paisley

1926 Visitation:
4,600


1927

Waterholes that supplied water to the monument
dry up following a series of
earthquakes and water has to be hauled in
for four years.
Dry waterwells

A troop of Boy Scouts discovers
Boy Scout Cave.
Boy Scout Cave

The Craters Inn and several cabins are
built for convenience of visitors.
Craters Inn


1931

A waterline supplying water from springs in the
north end of the monument to the
campground and headquarters building completed.
Waterlins added


1956

The Mission 66 Program initiates construction
of today's road system, visitor
center, shop, campround and comfort station.
Mission 66

1956 Visitation:
100,000


1959

The Craters of the Moon Natural History Association
formed to assist the monument
in educational activities.
Natural History Association formed


1962

Addition of an island of vegetation completely
surrounded by lava known as
Carey Kipuka increases the size of the
monument by 5360 acres.
Carey Kipuka


1967

Study of mule deer completed. Mule deer study


1969

NASA astronauts Alan Shepherd, Edgar Mitchell,
Eugene Cernan, and Joe Engle
explore the monument while training to
visit the moon.
NASA astronauts


1970

Congress creates the Craters of the Moon Wilderness,
the first such designation within
the National Park Service.
Wilderness designated


1983

Mt. Borah earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3
on the Richter scale felt at the
monument but does little damage.
Mt. Borah earthquake


1992

Dedication of first totally accessible trail
at Devils Orchard
Devils Orchard accessible trail

The first Winterfest, a mid-winter event
to encourage family fun in the snow,
is held.
Winterfest


1993

Guided walks and programs attended
by over 12,000 visitors.
Guided walks


1994

Visitor center lawns removed to eliminate
the attraction that was causing
deer to be killed while crossing the highway.
Visitor center lawns removed

1995 Visitation:
237,000


1997

New exhibits installed in visitor center. New Visitor center exhibits

Over 6,000 school children visit the monument. School children


1999

75th Anniversary Celebration. 75th Anniversary


In This Commemorative Issue
Front Page | An Unearthly Experience | Regional Activities and Information
Our Home Page

Page 3 75th Anniversary Commemorative Newspaper


http://www.nps.gov/crmo/75news3.htm
Last Updated: 24-AUG-2000