Adventure 003, Site 049-Smithsonian Institute Hut

Gary in front of the Smithsonian Institute's Hut

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 003, Site 049-Smithsonian Institute Hut

National Registry of Historic Places ID: 77000119

Team: YOLT

Date:  July 17, 2013

Location:

Coordinates: 36°34′43″N 118°17′32″W

Address: Lone Pine, California-nearest city

Description:

Date Built: 1909

Architect: Dr. William W. Campbell

We made it! All the way to the top of Mt Whitney. We knew that the Hut was up there on the summit-Gary even has been inside the hut way back in 1969, while Sherri's previous climb was limited to seeing the outside of the hut, as it is this time. Today, we put our names into the registry by the hut and enjoy the sight.



The official name of the hut is the Mount Whitney Smithsonian Institution Shelter. It was built to shelter supplies and equipment for the Mars observation of that year. Also it would shelter workers during storms—which is a bit ironic since there are signs around the hut now saying do not go into the hut during storms. You may be hit by lightening. But before that, Mt. Whitney was a militaty reservation to study weather. Today, we study weather from high flying planes, but back then, Whitney was the best you could do.



References:

• Yuba Net – 100 Year Celebration
  
• Smithsonian Magazine article-August 27, 2009
  
• Sierra Nevada GeoTourism
  
• Wikipedia
  
• National Registry of Historic Places: Documentation and Pictures
  

Overall Landmark References:

• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)