White River Mess Hall and Dormitory, building in Washington, United States
The White River Mess Hall and Dormitory is a brick building built in 1933 in Mount Rainier National Park with rustic architecture in the National Park Service style. It contains a dining room, kitchen, sleeping areas, living room, two bathrooms, and a service porch spanning about 2,000 square feet.
The building was constructed in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal program that created jobs during the Great Depression. It is the only surviving structure from a CCC camp within the park and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
The building takes its name from the nearby White River and reflects how workers lived and gathered here during the 1930s. Visitors can see today how the simple design fits with the forest landscape and understand the role this place played in the park's early development.
The building sits near the White River entrance and is easily reached from the main park road. Visitors should know that the structure is mainly visible from the outside, as the interior is not currently open to the public.
The building is the only surviving structure from a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the park and displays the practical craftsmanship of the 1930s. The fact that young workers lived and labored here during the economic crisis makes it a rare remnant of an important federal initiative.
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