Black Moshannon State Park Family Cabin District
Why it's listed
Sixteen log, stone and clapboard buildings built by Civilian Conservation Corps Camp S-71 between 1933 and 1937 make up this district in Rush Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Camp S-71 began work at Black Moshannon State Park in May 1933 and remained active until January 1937. The district includes twelve tourist-style cabins laid out in a straight line resembling a 1930s automobile tourist court, a lodge, a cabin with a stone wall and two latrines. The cabins are single-room or two-room log structures with saddle corners and stone fireplaces. The layout departs from the rustic site planning generally adopted by the CCC and is regarded as unique among CCC-built family cabin areas in Pennsylvania state parks. The buildings reflect the rustic style promoted by the National Park Service, which uses local natural materials and blends with the landscape. The district is significant for its link to the Civilian Conservation Corps, a major New Deal relief program that employed thousands of young men during the Depression. Built on state-owned land, the cabins also show cooperation between state and federal government.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant for its association with the Civilian Conservation Corps, a major New Deal relief program, and for its rustic architecture promoted by the National Park Service. Its linear layout resembling a 1930s tourist court is described as unique among CCC family cabin areas in Pennsylvania state parks. The nomination states that the buildings represent the federal and state cooperation and the employment of jobless young men during the Depression.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87000102, listed February 12, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 9 mi. E of Philipsburg on PA 504, Philipsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | February 12, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000102 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1933-1937 |
| Architect / builder | CCC Camp S-71 |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 16.5 |
| Within district | Black Moshannon State Park Day Use District |
| Coordinates | 40.91364, -78.06241 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87000102.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q98900951
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.