Honoring over a century of Mount Rainier National Park’s splendor, plus how you can shape the next 125 years with Washington’s National Park Fund.
Whether you’re driving on I-5, taking the ferry, flying into Sea-Tac, or living near a surrounding town, you know that “The Mountain” in the distance is Mount Rainier.
For millennia, people have relied on, admired, and stewarded that iconic mountain, and on March 2nd, 1899, it became what is known today as Mount Rainier National Park. This year marks the park’s 125th birthday, and we invite you to celebrate this remarkable place that we know and love!
According to the park:
“The land administered as Mount Rainier National Park has been since time immemorial the Ancestral homeland of the Cowlitz, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin Island, Yakama, and Coast Salish people. By following Elders’ instructions passed through generations, these Indigenous Peoples remain dedicated caretakers of this landscape. Their Traditional Knowledge and Management of this Sacred Land will endure in perpetuity, and we honor each nation’s traditions of landscape stewardship in our endeavors to care for, protect, and preserve the features and values of the mountain.”
Read more about the associated tribes of Mount Rainier.
Nearly two million people flock to Mount Rainier National Park each year and if you are one of those lucky visitors, you know why it is so special. From the colorful wildflowers and abundant wildlife to the pristine trails and inspiring views, there is so much to love about this place.
But with a park that is so well-loved, and with more people visiting every year, the care and stewardship of this place is crucial – now more than ever. This is where Washington’s National Park Fund steps in.
Giving Back to Wild Places
Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF) is the official fundraising partner to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. We are on a mission to raise funds to preserve and enhance the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities of those three parks so that they remain vibrant, thriving ecosystems and cherished destinations for future generations.
Recognizing that the budget given to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks isn’t keeping pace with the parks’ needs for maintaining infrastructure, maintenance in the parks, salaries for park rangers, and more, groups like ours exist to fill gaps in much-needed funding for priority projects in the parks.
At Mount Rainier, donations from generous individuals, companies, and foundations support everything from the purchase of search and rescue equipment to volunteer programs, wildlife studies, trail maintenance, and programs that bring wilderness access to underserved communities.
Fun fact: WNPF provides the largest portion of funding – roughly 2/3 – to the volunteer program at Mount Rainier National Park! The park’s 2,000 volunteers provide 70,000 hours of service to the park every year. Talk about impact!
Other impactful projects that WNPF donors support include a night sky internship, wildflower meadow restoration, and repairing the historic Paradise Comfort Station. Every year, gifts from generous supporters and park lovers make anywhere from 40 to 50 park projects possible in Washington’s national parks. Donors make a real difference in Washington’s national parks, helping preserve and protect them for future generations.
You Can Make a Difference for Mount Rainier
As we celebrate Mount Rainier’s 125th birthday, we encourage everyone to give back to a place that has given us all so much. If you’re feeling inspired to join Washington’s National Park Fund in supporting the park, consider giving a birthday gift. There are lots of ways to give, so you can give in the way that makes most sense for you.
And be sure to visit wnpf.org/events to find our schedule of local pint nights celebrating the park’s birthday. We’d love to see you out at one, joining us in raising a pint for the parks!
With support from donors, volunteers, gateway communities, and mountain lovers across Washington and beyond, we have no doubt Mount Rainier National Park will continue to thrive for the next 125 years, too.
Kacee Saturay,
Donor Stewardship and Social Media Manager
Washington’s National Park Fund
Written By: Kacee Saturay, Donor Stewardship & Social Media Manager at Washington’s National Park Fund on February 23, 2024