"Johnny, there isn't a claim around or near the lake. It all belongs to the government, and it's up to you and me to save this lake."
- William Gladstone Steel, 1885
National Park History
The very first photo of Crater Lake by Peter Britt in 1874.
In 1902, Crater Lake and its surrounding areas became America's fifth national park, encompassing approximately 100,000 acres (National Park Service, 2002).
Warfield et al
(1996)
provides a thorough history of how the region became a park.
William
Gladstone Steel is credited with dedicating his life to the
perseverance of the
lake. In August of 1885, he and John Breck, a druggist from
Portland, made
a voyage to the lake. After standing speechless for several
moments, Steel
came up with the idea that it should be a national park. Thus
began his
forty-nine years of involvement with Crater Lake.
Captain James Dutton suggested that Steel circulate a petition to ask President Cleveland to set ten local townships aside as a public park. Steel did that, and accumulated several prominent signatures. That, combined with a personal presentation and public support, was enough to convince the President to set aside parkland. This occurred on January 31, 1886.
Over the
next sixteen
years, Steel continued his crusade to protect the lake. At his
own
expense, he sent out a thousand circular letters, wrote several
magazine and
newspaper articles asking for support, and also asked newspapers and
postmasters
to circulate petitions. Furthermore, he also wrote a book
entitles "The
Mountains of Oregon", which he mailed to the president.
During
that sixteen year period, a legislative bill proposing a national park
was
introduced, and ultimately defeated every year in
parliament.
W.G. Steele. NPS
photo
In 1902, an undeterred Steel spoke with personal friends of President Roosevelt, asking them to urge the president to talk to the speaker of the house. This plan worked. On May 22, 1902, the President signed the bill to create the park. Steel's dream, after years of hard work, had finally been attained - Crater Lake became the fifth national park.
Steel's work was not done. Through his lobbying for federal funds, a concessionaire operation called the Crater Lake Lodge Company opened in 1915, and Rim Drive was completed in 1918. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed the park commissioner. During this time, he toured the country, promoting the national park. Because of his promotional efforts, park visitation increases dramatically. He was park commissioner up until his death in 1934.
"My heart bounds with joy and gladness, for I realize that I have been the cause of opening up this wonderful lake for the pleasure of mankind, millions of whom will come and enjoy it. Unborn generations will profit by its glories. Money knows no charm like this."
- William Gladstone Steel, 1930