Mt. Rainier National Park turned 125 on March 2nd, 2024, but celebrations have continued throughout the year. This marks a significant milestone for the National Park Service in the United States, as this park was a trailblazer for conservation and archeology. It’s the fifth oldest national park in the United States. Along with Yellowstone, it has been heavily studied for volcanic activity and broke ground for volcanic hazard awareness. Let’s take a closer look at this natural wonder.
Mt. Rainier National Park’s History
Long before the white explorers colonized the area, Mt. Rainer was called Tahoma, Takhoma, or Tacoma, among a few similar names, depending on what tribe of Indigenous people called the mountain. Its plentiful hunting grounds brought the Indigenous tribes inland on the flanks of the mountain during the summer months. They continue to be of significant cultural importance to local tribes today.
Mt. Rainier got its new name from Captain George Vancouver of the British Royal Navy, who was exploring the area in 1792. He named the mountain after his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier. The area surrounding the mountain saw increased settlement until 1899 when Mt. Rainier National Park was founded. It was the first park to be newly constructed with personal automobile roads, with the road network being completed in 1915.
Mt. Rainer’s Volcanic Hazard Monitoring Program
Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano and is currently dormant. Dormant does not mean extinct, as it can and certainly will erupt again someday. Geologists believe that the mountain first began building itself around 1-2 million years ago. The volcanic mountain range where it sits is known as the Cascade Range, resulting from a subduction zone between the Juan De Fuca plate and the Pacific plate.
Geologists know that the volcano last erupted in 1450 but aren’t sure when it will erupt again. However, they are certain it will. In the meantime, people who live near the volcano should be prepared. The most significant threats to those who live closest are pyroclastic flows and lahars. Lahars are formed from melted glacier water superheated by volcanic eruptions, making a deadly, fast-moving slurry.
Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park
Hiking and mountaineering are the apparent activities here, and Mt. Rainier Nation Park offers some of the most popular trails in the United States. That isn’t all there is to do if you love the beauty of nature. There is world-class fly fishing, or you can go horseback riding in the breathtaking countryside. If you love wildlife, book an elk spotting trip.
Ongoing Anniversary Festivities
Mount Rainier National Park has been hosting a year-long speaker series, and on September 4th, 2024, Greg Burtchard will be a guest speaker at the park to discuss the ongoing relationship between the National Park Service and local Indigenous tribes that call the area home. Greg is a professor of Anthropology at Pacific Lutheran University and a retired cultural resource specialist with the National Park Service.
On October 2, 2024, the park will host speaker Jocelyn Atkins, founder and executive director of the Cascades Carnivore Project. She will discuss the collaboration between her organization and the National Park Service in protecting endangered species in the Pacific Northwest.
Final Thoughts
Rising at 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is a magnificent figure on the Washington horizon. The National Park surrounding it features breathtaking beauty in all four seasons. In its 125th anniversary, this park will be treasured for generations.
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