Moran State Park

Moran State Park
Mountain Lake in Moran State Park
Map showing the location of Moran State Park
Map showing the location of Moran State Park
Location in the state of Washington
Map showing the location of Moran State Park
Map showing the location of Moran State Park
Moran State Park (the United States)
LocationSan Juan, Washington, United States
Coordinates48°39′23″N 122°49′04″W / 48.65639°N 122.81778°W / 48.65639; -122.81778[1]
Area5,424 acres (21.95 km2)
Elevation932 ft (284 m)[1]
Established1921
OperatorWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
WebsiteMoran State Park
Moran State Park
Mt. Constitution observation tower
Location3572 Olga Road,
Olga, San Juan County
Orcas Island, Washington
Built byCivilian Conservation Corps
ArchitectCivilian Conservation Corps;
Storey, Ellsworth;
Paterson, Jack
NRHP reference No.12001140
Added to NRHPJanuary 2, 2013

Moran State Park is a public recreation area on Orcas Island in Puget Sound's San Juan Islands in the state of Washington, United States.[2] The state park encompasses over 5,000 acres of various terrain including forests, wetlands, bogs, hills, and lakes. It is the largest public recreation area in the San Juan Islands and the fourth largest state park in the state. A park focal point is the observation tower atop Mount Constitution, the highest point in San Juan County at 2,407 feet.[3][4]

History

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The park was originally the estate of Seattle mayor and shipbuilder Robert Moran. Due to poor health, Moran moved to Orcas Island and between 1906 and 1909 built his estate, which included a large mansion named Rosario. Wood and stone material found on the island were used to construct the estate's houses and buildings. In 1921, Moran gave a large portion of his property to the state of Washington for the creation of Moran State Park. The mansion and its grounds remain in private hands, operated as Rosario Resort and Spa.[5]

In August 1935, 28 men from the 4768th Company of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began constructing a stone observation tower atop 2,407-foot (734 m) Mount Constitution. Designed by noted Seattle architect Ellsworth Storey, the tower became the literal and figurative high point of eight years of work by crews from the CCC's Camp Moran.[6] The state park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.[7]

Activities and amenities

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The park has more than 30 miles (48 km) of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, non-motorized boating from two boat ramps, and year-round camping in five camping areas. The Mount Constitution observation tower commands sweeping marine views from the highest point in the San Juan Islands.[2]

  • Cascade Falls
    Cascade Falls
  • Rustic Falls on Cascade Creek
    Rustic Falls on Cascade Creek

Friends of Moran raise money for park needs through fundraising and by operating a small gift shop at the top of the mountain. The volunteer group organizes park cleanups and improvement events.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Moran State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b "Moran State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  3. ^ "Mount Constitution". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. ^ "Mount Constitution : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost". www.summitpost.org. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Rosario Resort and Spa". Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  6. ^ Oldham, Kit (October 29, 2005). "Civilian Conservation Corps begins building an observation tower on Mount Constitution, Orcas Island, in August 1935". The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. HistoryLink. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  7. ^ "Moran State Park". National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. January 2, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "Volunteer Vacation Opportunities | San Juan Islands Washington Visitors Bureau | Orcas Island | Lopez Island | Friday Harbor | San Juan Island". Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  9. ^ "Be a Friend – Friends of Moran". Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
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