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Mt. Rainier National Park
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Longmire Area
The first area featuring tourist services encountered by people entering the southwest entrance to the park, its busiest entrance, is the Longmire area. The area, 6 miles inside the southwest entrance, is reached by one of the most beautiful forest roads anywhere.
The Longmire area is also the oldest developed area in the park. The National Park Inn is located in a heavily foresed area which features a nice view of Mt. Rainier above its forested lower slopes.
The Longmire area was first noticed by James Longmire, a Washington pioneer, trailblazer, and climbing guide. In 1884, Longmire discovered the meadow on the western slope of the mountain which contained mineral springs. He established the Mineral Springs resort, with a hotel and restorative health spa.
Later, the National Park Inn was built by the Tacoma & Eastern Railroad in 1907 across the road from James Longmire's Longmire Hot Springs Hotel. The original building was a 3 story lodge with 36 guest rooms. In 1917 another hotel building was added containing 17 rooms. Both buildings were acquired by the Rainier National Park Company in 1918.
In 1926 the larger National Park Inn building burned down, leaving the 2 story annex buildig which is still in its original location. At the age of over 90 years the National Park Inn is one of the oldest continuously used inns in th estate of Washington.
The lodge features a 2 story wooden building representative of the sort of buildings built in national parks in the early 1900's. It is located in an area surrounded by forests composed of Douglas fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock. The National Park Inn features 25 overnight rooms, and also provides a lovely large, covered porch.
Here is another picutre of the National Park Inn, which features a nice porch which runs the length of the building and affords a wonderful view of Mt. Rainier.
The Longmire area serves as the operations center of the park, including a number of facilities in addition to the hotel, including a ranger station, museum, and nature trail.
The famed Wonderland Trail begins and ends in the Longmire area.
For potential visitors, ParkVision recommends "Story Behind the Scenery" guides and "Trails Ilustrated" maps.
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