Utilitarian structures constructed to support park operations were as carefully designed and sited within the landscape as the grand lodges and visitor contact facilities used by the public. Ranger patrol cabins, powerouses, maintenance facilities, and superintendent residences were all studied and designed to meet the picturesque requirements of park architecture.

Use of rustic construction was necessary at times. Building with anything other than native trees and stone would have been prohibitively expensive. And because of their isolated locations, many park operational areas were like small municipalities -- employee residences, post offices and power generating stations all sited in carefully planned villages.

Munson Valley was the site chosen for one of the most comprehensive Rustic architectural programs undertaken by the National Park Service. Landscape architect Merel Sager was assigned the task of laying out the administrative, residential and maintenance facilities and establishing design guidelines. The rustic character of the buildings was carried throughout a sequence of small stone-and-timber cottages that became progressively larger and culminated at the Superintendent's Residence on a hill.

Located near the center of Denali National Park on a major river and overland transportation route, Pearson Cabin (Toklat Ranger Station) is the oldest patrol cabin built entirely by park rangers. The cabin and dog house are constructed of unpeeled round logs, moss, dirt, and wood strips for chinking. They are part of a larger system of fourteen log patrol cabins within the park, spaced at a distance of ten to fifteen miles along the north and east park boundaries -- one day's dog sled journey apart.

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