Manzanita Lake Naturalist's Services Historic District

Manzanita Lake, the first developed area visitors meet at the Northwest Entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park, has served since the late 1920s as the center of the park's interpretive program. The district brings together the stone Loomis Museum, built by Benjamin Loomis in 1927 and donated to the National Park Service in 1929, a small seismograph building with embedded obsidian, the Loomis residence and studio, and the naturalist's residence and garage completed in 1934. Manzanita and Reflection lakes and a trail system finished in 1936 and resurfaced in 1946 were used for talks and guided walks on the area's flora and volcanic geology. The buildings follow Italian Renaissance and NPS Rustic styles, with native stone prominent. Although the lodge, cabins and original campground have been removed, the naturalist's services infrastructure remains largely intact, which supports the district's listing.