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16 years before Mount Rainier National Park was established in 1889, James Longmire built a 13 mile long trail from Ashford to a hot springs he discovered in what is now know as the Longmire Historic District. By 1890, he had built cabins and a small hotel, attracting up to 500 guests each summer by the turn of the century. His family also built a trail to the Paradise area, six miles away.
Early Days of the National Park
By 1906, the National Park Service allowed competition to move in and the first National Park Inn was built, causing a rift in their relationship with the Longmire family. In the 1910s, the park’s headquarters moved to the area, where it remained until 1977.
In 1916, the Rainier National Park Company was formed and purchased the family’s property, effectively ending the family’s association with the park. The company, intending to market the hot springs, had the water tested, but it was concluded that they had no medicinal properties. Coupled with the opening of the lodge in Paradise, the test made the Longmire properties unprofitable.
Longmire Historic District
Today, the buildings in Longmire make up the Longmire Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. Most were built in the late 1920s in the National Park Service Rustic style. Although the park headquarters are no longer located there, many of the buildings are still in use. You can see them on the 1 ¼ mile long Historic Longmire Walking Tour, which can also be done in a car.
National Park Inn
You can start exploring the area at the National Park Inn. Today’s structure is actually the Longmire Springs Hotel annex, which was originally built in 1916. In 1918, the Rainier National Park Company moved the annex next to the National Park Inn. They also demolished most of the Longmire properties in order to “improve the appearance” of the area. The original National Park Inn was built in 1906 and burned down in 1926. The annex assumed the name of the old National Park Inn, was renovated in 1936, and rebuilt in 1990.
General Store
The General Store next door was originally the Hiker’s Center. It was built in 1911 by the Tacoma and Eastern Railroad. Inside, you can buy park memorabilia and supplies.
Service Station
Nearby is the Service Station, which was built in 1929 and provided automobile services to visitors for many years.
Longmire Museum
The tiny Longmire Museum, built in 1916, was the park’s first headquarters. Inside, there are exhibits about wildlife in the park and the park’s history. Outside the entrance, there’s a piece of a Douglas fir that began to grow in 1273 with a timeline of world events on it.
Wilderness Information Center
The Wilderness Information Center, open from May to October, is where visitors can obtain wilderness permits and get information on backcountry hiking and camping. It was completed in 1930 and served as the “new” Administration Building, replacing the museum as park headquarters. The library is directly across the road.
Nisqually River Suspension Bridge
The road continues past housing for park employees and officials until it comes to a gorgeous suspension bridge over the Nisqually River. It was built in 1924 to access a planned campground across the river, and rebuilt in the 1950s. Before the bridge was built, a small pony bridge was used to cross the river.
On either side of the bridge, you can look out onto the Nisqually River, which is fed by the Nisqually Glacier on Mount Rainier and empties into Puget Sound.
Community Building
At the end of the trail is the Community Building, built in 1927. It was used to serve campers and is located next to the former Longmire Public Auto Campground, which opened in 1925 and was closed to the public in 1989. The building is now a meeting, lecture, and training center.
Before heading back to the National Park Inn, make sure you get a fantastic look at Mount Rainier from the banks of the Nisqually River outside the Community Building.
Trail of the Shadows
Once you finish with the historic district, the Trail of the Shadows is a wonderful way to delve into the Longmire family’s contribution to the park. The loop trail can be accessed across the street from the National Park Inn.
