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Mt. Rainier National Park
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Jackson Visitor Center
There are visitor centers located in the Longmire, Sunrise, and Ohanapecosh areas, but perhaps the most noteworthy center is located in Paradise Valley. The Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, named after Senator Henry M. Jackson, is shown below.
Jackson was a longtime senator from the state of Washington, a national political figure, and supporter of Mt. Rainier National Park.
The Jackson Visitor Center is a relatively new building, composed of stone and wood, as can be seen below. It is located close to the Guide Hut and across the parking lot from Paradise Inn. Its location provides a very nice view of the upper portion of Mt. Rainier.
The building seems to be constructed to keep visitors in touch with the magnificent scenery which surrounds it. The ground floor provides a large open space with maps, exhibits and a ranger-staffed information counter, seen below.
The buildling features open construction, the high rafters, wooden materials, and ample windows.
For potential visitors, ParkVision recommends "Story Behind the Scenery" guides and "Trails Ilustrated" maps.
At each end of the open space there are a second floor areas, or lofts, such as the one seen below which includes informational exhibits.
The other loft includes a store which includes books, pamphlets, catalogs, and a variety of gifts related to the mountain and the park.
The original Jackson Vistor Center was sometimes referred to as the "flying saucer" because of its unusual shape. This building featured a 360 degree observation deck which allowed visitors to peer out at Mt. Rainier, the Tatoosh Range, and other scenic wonders. The picture below obviously shows the old center early during one of the Paradise Valley winters which feature enormous amounts of snow.
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