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HISTORIC RESOURCE STUDY
North Cascades National Park Service Complex, Washington
Gretchen A. Luxenberg
1986
Situated in the northwestern part of the United States, the Cascade Range bisects the state of Washington and forms its north-south spine. The natural resources which comprise this impressive range of mountains are diverse, even to the most casual observer. Dense evergreen forests blanket the moist western slopes of the range while open pine forests cover the more arid eastern side. Topographically the Cascades show great relief. High, snow-laden peaks, cirques, and vast snowfields give way to low wooded river valleys formed tens of thousands of years ago by slow-moving glaciers. Today, the Cascade Range between Snoqualmie Pass and the Canadian border, commonly referred to as the North Cascades, contains the largest (519 in number) glacial area in the continental United States. Retreating glaciers scoured bedrock leaving behind lakes, ponds, and tarns now familiar to many backcountry visitors. Dramatic geologic uplifts from an earlier age have exposed older rocks, creating a paradise for field geologists. Diverse flora and fauna systems within this environment -- some endangered, some flourishing -- create a unique biological laboratory of immense scientific interest. All of these natural resources combine to create and display a region of distinct scenic grandeur in the Pacific Northwest.
Over the years, humans have traversed this land and to varying degrees have left behind an imprint of use, adaptation, and change recognizable today. First used by Native Americans, the mountain passes and trails later carried fur traders and trappers. Explorers and surveyors followed and helped open the region to hardy settlers and miners filtering into the mountains to make a life and livelihood for themselves. Over several years land uses other than homesteading and prospecting became possible, and many more came to harvest timber, plant orchards, graze animals, and harness the mountain rivers for production of electricity. In later years as leisure time grew into a national obsession, people approached the North Cascades with a new interest -- recreation. Concurrent with nearly all of the above activities was the presence of the federal government acting as the steward of these lands. These are the themes developed in the following report.The report contains the following five chapters, each reflecting a theme significant in park history:
Each chapter traces thematic patterns or trends from the greater context (outside park boundaries) to specific sites (within park boundaries). For the purposes of this study, use of "the park" should be interpreted to mean the entire NPS complex.
Following each chapter are conclusions and recommendations for all known extant cultural resources related to the particular theme discussed in the chapter. Based on National Register criteria, these recommendations will provide guidance for park managers responsible for preserving the area's significant historic structures and sites.
It is hoped this document can contribute to an understanding of the human history of the North Cascades and provide direction for park staff in interpreting and maintaining the cultural resources of the park.
http://www.nps.gov/noca/hrs.htm