Going postal for Crater Lake
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
January 13, 2002
By LEE JUILLERAT
People and postcards have always been a big part of Crater Lake National Park visits.
For many visitors, the Crater Lake “experience” involves a stop at Rim Village, stroll to a nearby overlook for views and photographs of the lake, and stop at the cafeteria-gift shop to buy a snack and postcards for the folks back home.
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 This postcard reads, “Crater Lake, Oregon, on the road of a thousand wonders.” On the back, a stamp costs 1 cent.
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Unusually large volumes of lake postcards are expected to find their way through the mails this year as Crater Lake celebrates its 100th year as a national park. The park was created on May 22, 1902, when enabling legislation was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt.
The centennial celebration will kick into high gear this summer, when the bulk of the half-million tourists visit the park.
Historically, postcards have played a major role in stimulating interest in the lake and park. Since the park was created, it’s been a haven for photographers whose images, usually as postcards, were sent around the nation and world.
The building that serves as the Rim Visitor contact center was actually originally built as a photo studio for Fred Kiser, a Northwest photographer who gained fame for his colorized photos of the lake. Kiser and others earned livelihoods taking and selling photographs, including black and white that were hand-colored in the days before color photography.
If a visitor center is eventually built on the rim, plans call for using the Kiser building as an exhibit area. Many of Kiser’s stunning photographs, some from locations all over the park and inside the caldera, are currently warehoused away from public view.
While most of the postcards typically feature dramatic and beautiful views of the lake, others have occasionally taken a different tact. Some have been intentionally light-hearted, others seem amusing over the passage of time and change in tastes. Others have historical interest because they show places like the Cleetwood Cove boat docks and Crater Lake Lodge as they were, not as they exist in 2002.
A few of my personal favorites are included here, including a Penny Postal, images taken from a NASA satellite and views framed in sunglasses.
If you’re planning a lake visit and likely to buy and mail postcards, consider a stop at the Rim Village headquarters or Rim Village contact station. Profits from sales at those areas, operated by the Crater Lake National Park History Association, are directly returned to the park for park-related projects.
Other pages in this section
- Park ranger recognized for rescue efforts – December 15, 2002
- Crater Lake ranger presented with Exemplary Act Award – December 07, 2002
- Obituaries – James Robert Read – November 24, 2002
- Plan: Relocate rim parking: Rim Village parking may leave Crater Lake’s edge – November 22, 2002
- Snow closes Crater Lake’s Rim Drive – November 13, 2002
- Crater Lake symposium broad as well as deep – October 07, 2002
- Renowned oceanographer featured speaker at Crater Lake symposium – September 18, 2002
- Rex Lee Trulove – September 08, 2002
- Crater Lake Fascinations: Diller’s pin, clear water, fish stories keep lake and park a place of wonder forever fascinating – August 31, 2002
- Navy pilot drops in to Crater Lake, again – August 27, 2002
- Crater Lake centennial party: Celebration amid the smoke – August 26, 2002
- Celebration day: Crater Lake National Park transformed for festivities – August 25, 2002
- Crater Lake license plate available in Oregon – August 25, 2002
- Happy 100th to the gem of Klamath – August 23, 2002
- Crater Lake learning center dedicated – August 23, 2002
- Long lines expected for new license plates – August 23, 2002
- National Park Service leader pays return visit to Crater Lake – August 23, 2002
- Crater Lake events listed – August 22, 2002
- Larson honored for Crater Lake work – August 18, 2002
- Obituary: Howard ‘Bud’ Hittenrauch – August 15, 2002
- Speakers set for Crater Lake – August 15, 2002
- Stunning revelations at high elevations: Runners experience life – August 11, 2002
- Lindgren makes memorable win – August 11, 2002
- Marathon has world, local flavor – August 11, 2002
- Runner takes ‘stroll in park’ – August 11, 2002
- Bush to visit Oregon, not Crater Lake – August 06, 2002
- Keep Rim Drive open – all of the way – July 31, 2002
- Crater Lake license plate unveiled – July 31, 2002
- Dedication of Future Science & Learning Center – August 22, 2002
- The fight for Crater Lake/Winning National Park Status Wasn’t Easy – July 28, 2002
- Centennial Award goes to Crater Lake researcher – July 22, 2002
- The Crater Lake murders and the 9-fingered man – July 21, 2002
- The party is ‘on’ at Crater Lake – July 18, 2002
- Park plan looks at snipping Rim Road – July 05, 2002
- Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake – June 16, 2002
- Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake – June 15, 2002
- Crater Lake’s north entrance open – June 05, 2002
- Crater Lake looking at trail relocation, rehabilitation – June 05, 2002
- Lake retains beauty after 100 years – May 22, 2002
- Crater Lake National Park Centennial ‘Let the celebration begin’ 1902-2002 – May 21, 2002
- The jewel turns 100: a century after it was dedicated, Crater Lake National Park inspires wonder for millions – May 19, 2002
- Old stories about W. F. Arant and Steel come back again and again for family – May 13, 2002
- W.F. Arant – Crater Lake’s first superintendent – May 13, 2002
- Quilting Crater Lake: Rocky Point will raffle quilt to raise funds – May 12, 2002
- Crater Lake alumni sought – May 09, 2002
- Cafe at Crater Lake to reopen – April 26, 2002
- Park Service names new concession official – April 13, 2002
- National park’s father returns: Will Steele on stage at Crater Lake – April 9, 2002
- Xanterra Parks & Resorts Receives Contract to Manage Concessions – April 5, 2002
- Crater Lake to be subject of museum lectures – March 30, 2002
- Crater Lake employee reunion part of Centennial celebration – March 25, 2002
- ‘How Crater Lake came to be’: A Klamath Indian legend Special for the Herald and News – February 25, 2002
- Making tracks at Crater Lake: guide shares insights with snowshoers; his knowledge of the lake is legendary – February 24, 2002
- Crater Lake Centennial Cookbook to be a part of this year’s celebration – February 22, 2002
- Crater Lake Ski Patrol crucial to park operations – February 21, 2002
- Crater Lake concession awarded to Amfac – January 30, 2002
- Lost skiers find searchers – January 24, 2002
- Search for overdue skiers – January 21, 2002
