Foundation
Below Is A Picture Of Middle-Aged John Hillman
Crater Lake was initially discovered by humans in 1853, when John Wesley Hillman, a gold prospector stumbled upon this humungous land mass stretching over a vast 249 square miles. One of many gold rush cultivators, Hillman found Crater Lake in southeastern Oregon, near Eugene, on his way to California.
Below Is A Picture Of An Elderly William Gladstone Steel
Almost half a century later, William Gladstone Steel recognized the park's unique beauty and fought against congress to commemorate Crater Lake as a national park. On May 22, 1902, Steel's wish came true, and Crater Lake was officially established as one of the earliest national parks.