The Rand Ranger Station is a

Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands. Headquartered in Washington DC, and with oversight over , it governs one eighth of the country's la ...

compound consisting of eight historic buildings located in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in southwest

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

. It was built by the

United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency inc ...

and the

Civilian Conservation Corps The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part of ...

as a district ranger station for the Galice Ranger District. The ranger station property was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management in 1970. Today, the ranger station office serves as a visitor center. The Rand Ranger Station is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

History

President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

created the Siskiyou National Forest in 1906. In 1909, six ranger districts were established to manage specific areas within the National Forest. The Galice Ranger District was responsible for Forest Service lands in the Rogue River canyon including timber sales, trail construction, and fire suppression activities. Jesse P. Dewitt became the first district ranger. Because the Forest Service had trouble securing permission to build a ranger's residence at the Rand site (which was owned by a local mining company), Dewitt was forced to live in a tent for eight years, from 1909 until 1916. In 1916, the mining company finally agreed to rent a small parcel of land to the Forest Service for one dollar per year. Construction on the ranger's residence, district office, and a barn began in 1917. In 1932, the Rand mining claim expired, and the Forest Service took permanent control of the ranger station property.''Rand National Historic Site''
Medford District Office, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Medford, Oregon, August 2004.“Rand National Historic Site”
State of Oregon Office, Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior, Portland, Oregon, 1 March 2009. The Civilian Conservation Corps was created in 1933. That same year, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was established at Rand. Known as Camp 1650, it was initially staffed by 18 enrollees. While most of the Rand area projects were managed by the Forest Service, the Civilian Conservation Corps workers constructed buildings, built roads and trails, and developed campgrounds in the surrounding National Forest. The Civilian Conservation Corps troops also helped Forest Service employees fight wildfires during the summer months. The Civilian Conservation Corps built their own barracks and camp support structures adjacent to the Rand Ranger Station. The Civilian Conservation Corps camp eventually housed over 200 enrollees. They also made many improvements to the Forest Service side of the compound. This included remodeling existing buildings and constructing new structures. They improved the

landscaping Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including the following: # Living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly called gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal o ...

around ranger station and built masonry

retaining walls Retaining walls are relatively rigid walls used for supporting soil laterally so that it can be retained at different levels on the two sides. Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain soil to a slope that it would not naturally keep to ...

at the site. The Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Rand was closed in August 1941. Following

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the Rand Ranger Station continued as the headquarters for Forest Service operations in the Rogue River canyon. During the postwar period, the Rogue River became a very popular area for

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

camping Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more nat ...

, and

boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether Motorboat, powerboats, Sailing, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sp ...

. In 1958, the Forest Service added a new ranger residence and a bunkhouse for seasonal employees. In 1963, the Siskiyou National Forest closed the Rand Ranger Station and moved the Galice Ranger District headquarters to Grants Pass. The Rand complex was left unused except for several buildings that were leased by

Oregon Board of Forestry The Oregon Board of Forestry is responsible for forest policy and oversight of forest management practices within the state of Oregon. The board appoints the state forester and oversees the Oregon Department of Forestry. The board also works wit ...

and Bureau of Public Roads. In 1970, the Bureau of Land Management acquired the Rand property from the Forest Service. Since then, the Bureau of Land Management has uses the site to issue float permits for the Rogue River, which is officially designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. In 1996, the Bureau of Land Management's visitor center that occupies the old ranger station office was named the Smullin Visitor Center in honor of William B. Smullin, a well known radio and television executive from southern Oregon. While all of the buildings from Civilian Conservation Corps camp are now gone, the Forest Service structures built by Civilian Conservation Corps still exist and are in good condition. In fact, the Rand Ranger Station has changed very little since it was built; as a result, it provides visitors a glimpse into the past. Because of the rustic architecture of its buildings and the site's unique historic value as an early Forest Service ranger station, the Rand compound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 10 June 1999."Rand Ranger Station"
Historical Places Database, ''www.hpdb.org'', Oakland, California, 1 March 2009.

Structures

The Rand Ranger Station compound is made up of eight historic buildings plus one additional historic structure. The buildings are all basic wood-frame structures. They include the district office, two ranger residences, a fire equipment

warehouse A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the outskirts of cities ...

blacksmith A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from #Other metals, other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such ...

shop, horse barn, gas house, a garage, and a large woodshed. All the historic structures at the Rand Ranger Station were either built or improved by Civilian Conservation Corps workers under the supervision of Forest Service rangers. The Rand historic structures were built in the Oregon rustic style between 1931 and 1936. The assistant ranger's residence was built by the Forest Service in 1931. The ranger station garage was built in 1933. The range station office and the ranger's residence were both begun in 1933 and completed in 1934. The barn, blacksmith shop, and gas house were built 1934. The fire warehouse was constructed in 1935, and the woodshed was built in 1936. The Rand Ranger Station office is now a visitor center. In 2004, the Bureau of Land Management expanded the visitor center, adding of floor space to the building.Fattig, Paul
"Chinese mining camp unearthed, Archaeologists find remnants of mining community at Rand"
''Mail Tribune'', Southern Oregon Media Group, Medford, Oregon, 6 October 2003. File:Rand Ranger's Residence, 1936.jpg, *Ranger's residence File:Rand Ranger Station Barn, 1936.jpg, *Ranger station barn File:Rand Ranger Station Fire Warehouse, 1936.jpg, *Fire warehouse File:Rand Ranger Station Gas House, 1936.jpg, *Gas and oil house In addition to the historic structure at the Rand Ranger Station, there are two non-historic buildings located on the compound. The two non-contributing building are a third ranger residence and a crew bunkhouse, both built in 1958.

Location

The Rand Ranger Station is in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest west of the Cascade Mountains in southern Oregon. It is located approximately three miles north of the small unincorporated community of

Galice, Oregon Galice is an unincorporated community in Josephine County in southern Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washing ...

. The ranger station is on a terraced slope above the Rogue River at an elevation of approximately above sea level. To get to the Rand Ranger Station from Interstate 5, take the

Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...

exit north of

Grants Pass, Oregon Grants Pass is the county seat of Josephine County, Oregon, United States. The city is located on Interstate 5, northwest of Medford, along the Rogue River. The population was 39,189 at the 2020 census. History Early Hudson's Bay Company hunt ...

, and follow the Merlin-Galice Road west through the towns of Merlin and Galice. The Rand Ranger Station is located on the east side of the Merlin-Galice Road on the west bank of the Rogue River. Parking is available at the Smullin Visitor Center at the entrance to the compound. The Smullin Visitor Center is open to the public during normal business hours every day from mid-May to mid-October. Office hours vary the rest of the year, so the Bureau of Land Management recommends that visitors call ahead during the off season. Visitors are welcome to take self-guided walking tours around the historic ranger station compound. However, the Smullin Visitor Center is the only building that is open to the public. Visitor must obtain permission from a Bureau of Land Management employee to enter the other historic buildings.

References

External links

Rand National Historic SiteBureau of Land Management – Medford OfficeRogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
{{National Register of Historic Places Oregon Park buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon Civilian Conservation Corps in Oregon Buildings and structures in Josephine County, Oregon Rustic architecture in Oregon Government buildings completed in 1936 United States Forest Service ranger stations Bureau of Land Management ranger stations National Register of Historic Places in Josephine County, Oregon 1936 establishments in Oregon