WAURanaparStudioRainierAlbumPHColl52.xml Guide to the Rainier National Park Mountain-Glacier Wonderland Photograph Album between 1923 and 1931? Rainier National Park Mountain-Glacier Wonderland Photograph Album Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2002 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH0052 Ranapar Studio Rainier National Park Mountain-Glacier Wonderland Photograph Album between 1923 and 1931? 63 photographic prints (1 box) English Scenic views of Mount Rainier and surrounding parkland and peaks, along with images of visitors enjoying the area's tourist attractions.

Congress established Mount Rainier as a national park on March 2, 1899, at which time Mount Rainier became the fifth national park in the country. In the early 1900s, local guides, familiar with the rough mountain terrain, began to operate out of a tent camp at Paradise Valley leading groups of people to the summit. With the opening of the highway to Paradise Valley in 1915 and the creation of the Rainier National Park Company in 1916, a more formalized guide service was established in 1917.

The Rainier National Park Company was founded by prominent members of Seattle and Tacoma society for the purpose of developing recreational and tourist facilities in the park. The Rainier National Park Company was responsible for the construction and operation of Paradise Inn which was completed in 1917. During the 1920s and 1930s, the park drew thousands of hikers and mountaineers from all around the world to the mountain's major attractions, including summit climbs and excursions to its famous glaciers and ice caves. Touring the park in "auto stages" on the newly developed scenic roads was another popular pastime and wildlife viewing, including feeding the animals, was encouraged. Additional public campsites and picnic areas were soon added, as well as new tourist enticements such as dog sledding, tobogganing, and horseback tours, with guides outfitted as cowboys.

The album containing this collection of photographs was probably used by the Rainier National Park Company as a promotional tool to draw tourists to Mount Rainier National Park. On the inside of the album is stamped "Ranapar Studio, Rainier National Park Company, Tacoma, Washington." Rananpar Studio was founded by Seattle photographer Asahel Curtis.

The collection consists of promotional photographs which document the various tourist activities associated with Mount Rainier National Park. Also included are photographs of Paradise Inn and numerous scenic views of the mountain itself and the surrounding parkland. Most of the photographs appear to be from the 1920s-1930s.

View selections from the collection in digital format

Open to the public.

Request at UW

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Donated by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Dec. 20, 1956 [on album cover].

Processed by Rebekah Dalby, 2002.

The photograph album originally containing the images was no longer intact, and the photographs were therefore removed and housed separately. The album cover and the order of the photographs within the album have been retained.

 Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Rainier National Park Company Ranapar Studio Mountaineering--Washington (State)--Mount Rainier National Park--Photographs Mountaineers--Washington (State)--Mount Rainier National Park--Photographs Tourists--Washington (State)--Mount Rainier National Park --Photographs Glaciers--Washington (State)--Mount Rainier National Park --Photographs Mountains--Washington (State)--Photographs Horseback riding--Washington (State)--Mount Rainier National Park--Photographs Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.)--Photographs Rainier, Mount (Wash.)--Photographs Landscape photographs Washington (State) Photographs Parks and Playgrounds Recreation

 

1 cover Album cover 1 1 Avalanche lilies in Upper Paradise Valley

No. 2698 appears in lower right corner of image.

 1 2 View of Tatoosh Range and Mt. Adams from Timberline Ridge

No 5784 appears in lower right corner of image.

 1 3 Success Peak seen from west side of Rainier National Park 1 4 Stevens Peak and the Cascades in distance 1 5 "The Castle" and Pinnacle Peak reflected in Paradise Lake 1 6 Mt. St. Helens seen from Rainier National Park 1 7 Mirror Lake in Indian Henry's Hunting Ground 1 8 View of Spray Park and Mt. Rainier 1 9 Winter toboggan chute at Longmire Springs 1 10 Three women falling off a toboggan in Paradise Valley 1 11 Three women tobogganing in Upper Paradise Valley 1 12 Ice cave in Paradise Glacier 1 13 Group in ice cave in Paradise Glacier 1 14 Group "nature gliding" at edge of Paradise Glacier 1 15 Group on the Nisqually Glacier 1 16 Group horseback riding on Skyline Trail 1 17 Large black bear and cubs with Pinnacle Peak in distance 1 18 Close-up of horseback riders on Skyline Trail 1 19 Man on horse on shore of Reflection Lake, Rainier National Park 1 20 Summit party at edge of large "bergschrund" near the summit 1 21 Summit guides with full equipment 1 22 Small party of climbers at top of Pinnacle Peak 1 23 Reconstructed government highway 1 24 Highway at Ricksecker Point 1 25 Lane Peak from Inspiration Point 1 26 Group waving flag on summit of Mt. Rainier 1 27 Party on horseback crossing snowfield on Skyline Trail 1 28 "Auto-stages" leaving Paradise Inn for Seattle and Tacoma 1 29 Paradise Inn and buildings in Paradise Valley 1 30 Large Douglas firs between Nisqually Entrance and Longmire Springs 1 31 Mt. Rainier and forested foothills 1 32 Women dancing at edge of Fairy Lake 1 33 Group of buildings and bungalow tents in Paradise Valley 1 34 Paradise Inn and Paradise River 1 35 South side of Rainier National Park from edge of Nisqually Glacier 1 36 Field of blue lupine in Paradise Valley 1 37 Woman diving in an ice cave of Paradise Glacier 1 38 Alaska dog team near Paradise Inn 1 39 At timberline in Sunset Park overlooking South Mowich Canyon 1 40 Little girl with wildflowers near the snow 1 41 Cars on highway seen from Inspiration Point 1923 1 42 The Castle and Pinnacle Peak with snow 1 43 Upper Paradise Valley and Mt. Rainier in winter 1 44 Group climbing glacier near summit of mountain 1 45 A group in ice cave in Paradise Glacier 1 46 Feeding a bear from car along the highway 1 47 View of Mt. Rainier seen from alpine meadow near Paradise Inn 1 48 View of mountain from the "Lone Pine Vista," 1923 1 49 Mt. Rainier reflected in Fairy Lake, Paradise Valley 1 50 The Castle and Pinnacle Peak seen from Paradise Valley 1 51 Mt. Rainier seen from small lake 1 52 Mirror Lake 1 53 Mt. Rainier seen from the side of Mt. Ararat 1 54 Field of blue lupine 1 55 Hikers on Picture Rock overlooking Paradise Valley and the Tatoosh Range 1 56 Beginning of Skyline Trail horseback trip 1 57 Alaskan husky team in front of Paradise Winter Lodge 1931 1 58 Hikers on Glacier Vista Ridge 1 59 Group investigating skylight of cave on Paradise Glacier 1 60 Climbers at edge of large crevasse in Nisqually Glacier 1 61 A small cottage at the National Park Inn at Longmire 1 62 Paradise Campground with Mt. Rainier 1 63 Group at foot of Pinnacle Glacier, overlooking Paradise Valley