Skyland Camp-Bowman Lake Ranger Station
Encyclopedia
The Skyland Camp-Bowman Lake Ranger Station in Glacier National Park was originally built as the Culver Boys' Military Academy. The main building, known variously as the Skyland Camp Messhall, Culver Boys' Military Academy Messhall and Skyline Chalet, was built in 1920 and is a good example of National Park Service Rustic
architecture. The main cabin, known as "Rainbow Lodge" was built by the boys of the academy in 1920 from red cedar logs, and is more elaborate and carefully detailed than typical ranger stations of this period. The interior is dominated by a stone fireplace.
The camp was originally owned by the Culver Military Academy
of Culver, Indiana
, which operated the camp as a concession within the park, on the shore of Bowman Lake. It operated for a few seasons, but poor management caused the National Park Service
to terminate the camp's contract. With the camp falling into disrepair, the Park Service demolished all buildings except the Rainbow Lodge in 1940, rehabilitating the lodge for use as a ranger station. Two boathouses are included in the listed area, and many furnishings in the ranger station are contributing features.
National Park Service Rustic
National Park Service rustic, also colloquially known as Parkitecture, is a style of architecture that arose in the United States National Park System to create buildings that harmonized with their natural environment. Since its founding, the National Park Service consistently has sought to provide...
architecture. The main cabin, known as "Rainbow Lodge" was built by the boys of the academy in 1920 from red cedar logs, and is more elaborate and carefully detailed than typical ranger stations of this period. The interior is dominated by a stone fireplace.
The camp was originally owned by the Culver Military Academy
Culver Academies
The Culver Academies is a college preparatory boarding school and summer camp in the United States. The Culver Academies is composed of three entities: Culver Military Academy for boys, Culver Girls Academy , and the Culver Summer Schools and Camps . Collectively known as Culver Academies located...
of Culver, Indiana
Culver, Indiana
Culver is a town in Marshall County, Indiana, United States. Culver is part of Union Township that also includes the communities of Burr Oak, Hibbard, Maxinkuckee and Rutland. The population was 1,353 at the 2010 census...
, which operated the camp as a concession within the park, on the shore of Bowman Lake. It operated for a few seasons, but poor management caused the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
to terminate the camp's contract. With the camp falling into disrepair, the Park Service demolished all buildings except the Rainbow Lodge in 1940, rehabilitating the lodge for use as a ranger station. Two boathouses are included in the listed area, and many furnishings in the ranger station are contributing features.
See also
- Belly River Ranger Station Historic DistrictBelly River Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Belly River Ranger Station Historic District in Glacier National Park includes several historic structures, including the original ranger station, now used as a barn. The rustic log structures were built beginning in 1912...
- Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic DistrictCut Bank Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Cut Bank Ranger Station in Glacier National Park was one of the first buildings built in Glacier by the National Park Service. Built in 1917, the design is in keeping with park hotel structures built by the Great Northern Railway in a Swiss chalet style that predated the fully developed...
- East Glacier Ranger Station Historic DistrictEast Glacier Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe East Glacier Ranger Station in Glacier National Park is characteristic of park buildings constructed in the 1920s and 1930s. It was designed by Daniel Ray Hull of the National Park Service Office of Plans, as a frame building compatible in style with the prevailing National Park Service Rustic...
- Kintla Lake Ranger StationKintla Lake Ranger StationThe Kintla Lake Ranger Station in Glacier National Park is a rustic log structure that was built by the Butte Oil Company in 1900 at Kintla Lake. It was taken over by the National Park Service and used as a ranger station. It is significant as a remnant of early oil exploration activities in the...
- Kishenehn Ranger Station Historic DistrictKishenehn Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Kishenehn Ranger Station in Glacier National Park was built in 1919 to replace an earlier station that burned in 1913. Located just three miles south of the U.S.-Canadian border, the log cabin was one of the earliest administrative structures in the park. The cabin was designed in an early...
- Logging Creek Ranger Station Historic DistrictLogging Creek Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Logging Creek Ranger Station is the oldest continually operating administrative site in Glacier National Park. The rustic log cabin is an early example of what would become a typical style of western park structure...
- Nyack Ranger Station Historic DistrictNyack Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Nyack Ranger Station Historic District encompasses the remnants of the former ranger station. Only two buildings now remain: the barn, built in 1935 from plans by the National Park Service Branch of Plans and Design, and the fire cache cabin, built by Austin Weikert in 1935.- References :...
- Polebridge Ranger Station Historic DistrictPolebridge Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Polebridge Ranger Station in Glacier National Park was the first administrative area in the park, predating the park's establishment. The ranger station was destroyed by fire, leaving the residence....
- Saint Mary Ranger Station
- Sherburne Ranger Station Historic DistrictSherburne Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Sherburne Ranger Station in Glacier National Park is an example of the National Park Service Rustic style. Located in the Swiftcurrent portion of the park, it was built in 1926. It is part of a small historic district that includes a mess hall and subsidiary structures, formerly known as the...
- Swiftcurrent Ranger Station Historic DistrictSwiftcurrent Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Swiftcurrent Ranger Station is an example of the Swiss Chalet style that prevailed in the early years of Glacier National Park, before the establishment of the similar National Park Service Rustic style. The station was designed by Edward A. Nickel and built by Ole Norden and S. M. Askevold. It...
- Upper Lake McDonald Ranger Station Historic DistrictUpper Lake McDonald Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Upper Lake McDonald Ranger Station in Glacier National Park was a formerly isolated site that became an administrative center with the opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The National Park Service Rustic cabin was typical of the preferred style for western park structures of the period...
- Walton Ranger Station Historic DistrictWalton Ranger Station Historic DistrictThe Walton Ranger Station in Glacier National Park was constructed to "Standard Ranger Station, GNP" plans as a year round station at Walton to replace the old Paola Ranger Station and to place a station near US 2, a well-traveled highway through the park...
- Polebridge to Numa Ridge PhonelinePolebridge to Numa Ridge PhonelineThe Polebridge to Numa Ridge Phoneline is a historic communications path in Glacier National Park. The line was the last remaining single-line crank telephone network in the American West. The remaining line, insulators, and terminals are instructive of early communication technology. The system...