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Longmire Historic District
The cluster of historically and architecturally significant structures at Longmire Village is recognized as the Longmire Historic Developed Area. The entire park is designated as a National Historic Landmark District because it protects one of the best collections of Rustic architecture in the national park system. Three structures at Longmire, the Administration Building, Community Building, and the Service Station, are designated as Historic Landmarks for their distinct architectural qualities reflecting the Rustic Style.
These structures remain intact from the era of park facility development and "master planning" efforts in the 1920s and 1930s. The concept that structures should harmonize with their natural surroundings was adapted by the National Park Service for the western parks. This Rustic Style was implemented at Mount Rainier National Park by incorporating natural raw materials and color schemes found in the native landscape into the structures. Log framing, rough wood siding, cedar shake or shingle roofs, massive boulder foundations, and stone chimneys aesthetically tie structures to the awesome mountain and forest landscape.
The dual roles of the National Park Service in maintaining park resources while promoting responsible public use are exemplified in the carefully planned Longmire Village Historic Developed Area.