The Watchman: Cultural Landscape Inventory: Crater Lake National Park, National Park Service
Hankinson M. 2003. The Watchman: Cultural Landscape Inventory: Crater Lake National Park, National Park Service. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 400006. NPS Pacific West Regional Office. Pacific West Regional Office/CLI Database
Watchman Observation Station and Watchman Trail are located on the summit of Watchman Peak (8013’). The observation station is found within the currently listed historic district in an area of less than 1 acre on andesite rock, a result of lava flows. Watchman Observation Station was designed, according to the Crater Lake Master Plan from the 1920s, to serve as an interpretive/educational center and as a fire lookout. The trail is a .8-mile linear landscape, which provides access for park visitors and rangers from a parking lot located at Watchman Overlook (7600’) to Watchman Observation Station at the summit. The historic trail is identified as a corridor, and follows the historic route currently known as Watchman Trail. Beginning at the base of Watchman Peak, the trail follows the original alignment of the old Rim Road for approximately 300 yards; the width of the historic corridor along this portion of trail is 7’ from the centerline of the trail in either direction. The Watchman Trail then spurs off of the original alignment of Rim Road and switchbacks to the observation station at the top; the width of the historic corridor along this portion of trail is 5’ from the centerline of the trail in either direction. The trail is moderately steep, a 15% grade, and ascends through the Sub Alpine vegetation zone, which is dominated by Whitebark pines and penstemon (Toops, 1983). Watchman Observation Station and Watchman Trail are significant for their NPS Rustic and Naturalistic Landscape–style of construction, 1931-1933. This landscape is also recognized for its association with early park master planning during the period of significance from 1916-1933 when the trail and observation station was planned and established. Presently, the trail and structure remain outstanding examples of park engineering and landscape architecture design efforts to blend the trail and building seamlessly into their surrounding contexts.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Hankinson, Mike
- Date of Issue
- 2003-07-25
- Publisher
- NPS Pacific West Regional Office
- Units
- CRLA , PWR
- Keywords
- Agriculture, Architecture, Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe, Education, Fire Prevention, historic site, Interpretive Landscape, Klamath Tribe, Naturalistic Landscape, Park Master Planning, Rim Drive Historic District, Rustic style, The 1930's: Era of Public Works, Watchman Lookout Station No. 68, Watchman Observation Station, Watchman Trail, Woodlot
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 400006: The Watchman