Grand Teton U.S. Department of the Interior Grand Teton National Park John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway Mission 66 and Colter Bay

After World War II, Americans began focking to national parks and monuments eager to explore their country’s natural and cultural icons. Visitation rose from 3.5 million in 1931 to 30 million by 1948. During the war, park maintenance and construction projects were low priority. By the 1950s, ofcials recognized the need to repair and modernize park infrastructure conceiving of a ten-year plan called Mission 66.

Mission 66 Congress approved almost one billion dollars experience the same basic amenities wherever for Mission 66 culminating with the 1966 golden they traveled including a “visitor center.” anniversary of the National Park Service. Architecture shifted from traditional rustic park Visitor centers housed both visitor and facilities built by the Civilian Conservation Corps administrative facilities improving interpretation (CCC) and brought in modern designs. High and stimulating public interest in parks. Common demand and limited budget promoted the use of foor plans and similar elements such as an inexpensive modern materials such as concrete, information desk, displays and an auditorium steel and glass. brought familiarity to visitors. Now a lasting symbol of Park Service Modern style, these Visitors complained of overcrowding, a lack of structures had a low profle blending with, not overnight accommodations and of the need for dominating the landscape. information. Mission 66 envisioned visitors would

Jackson Lake Lodge As the National Park Service formulated Mission campground in a national park. His company and Colter Bay 66 plans, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. hired architect moved historic log cabins from abandoned dude Gilbert Stanley Underwood to design the Jackson ranches for use as rental cabins, and constructed Lake Lodge on a bluf overlooking Jackson employee housing. Lake. The lodge opened in 1955 the frst modern structure in Grand Teton National Park. Some Soon a “Mission 66” sign welcomed visitors to welcomed the “artful blend of comfortable the rapidly expanding Colter Bay area. In 1956, modern with western” while others decried the the park broke ground for one of the frst Mission “slab sided concrete abomination.” Five miles 66 visitor centers. The center opened in 1958 north of the lodge, the Grand Teton National Park featuring a vaulted ceiling with 11-foot tall picture and Rockefeller chose an old CCC camp at Colter windows ofering visitors a stunning view of the Bay to expand visitor services and provide access Teton Range towering above Jackson Lake. The to Jackson Lake. stunning view belied the building’s low profle that took advantage of the site’s slope to elevate At Colter Bay, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. built a small the view. Other new facilities included an outdoor general store, a gas station, boat marina, two amphitheater, a 350-unit campground, park restaurants and the frst recreational vehicle (RV) housing and maintenance areas. Mission 66 Throughout the national park system, Mission 66 • 535 water and 521 sewer systems Accomplishments program funded: • 458 rehabilitated historic buildings • 2,767 miles of new and rebuilt roads • 1,239 park housing structures • 936 miles of new and rebuilt trails • 584 new restrooms • 49,797 parking spaces • 50 boat marinas • 575 campgrounds with 17,782 campsites • 114 visitor centers • 742 picnic areas with 12,393 sites • 82 campfre circles and amphitheaters

The Legacy In Grand Teton National Park, the Mission 66 still anchors interpretive services in the northern program funded two new visitor centers, Moose part of the park. and Colter Bay, in addition to the parks outer highway (U.S. 26, 89, 191). Mission 66 revolutionized visitor services throughout the National Park Service. Many of The park opened the Craig Thomas Discovery those structures still fulfll their original design, and Visitor Center in 2007 to replace the Moose but some have been replaced by the new wave Visitor Center, but the Mission 66 building is of visitor centers. As you travel, refect on the still in use. The Colter Bay Visitor Center has information and services you receive at these undergone many changes over the decades but iconic places.

Mission 66 Visitor Centers

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