History
| Rosario | |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Location: | S of East Sound on Orcas Island, Orcas Island, Washington |
|---|---|
| Area: | 30 acres (12 ha) |
| Built: | 1905 |
| Architectural style: | Bungalow/craftsman, Other, Arts and Crafts |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 78002772 |
| Added to NRHP: | November 2, 1978 |
The original land for Moran State Park was donated to the state in 1921 by Seattle mayor and shipbuilder Robert Moran. Due to poor health, Moran moved to Orcas Island and between 1906 and 1909 built his estate, naming it Rosario. Today, the former Moran estate is Rosario Resort and Spa . It is the largest resort in the San Juan Islands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Rosario mansion features a museum honoring Robert Moran, complete with original furnishings. The mansion's music room is home to a 1913 34-rank Aeolian pipe organ and 1900 Steinway grand piano, both of which are still played for visitors today by the musician, Christopher Peacock. Five days a week there is a free program that includes a concert by Mr. Peacock, who plays the aforementioned instruments, and recounts the history of Moran and Rosario. During the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the trails, roads, bridges, and buildings that are seen in the park today. Wood and stone material found on the island were used to construct the estate's houses and buildings.
Read more about this topic: Moran State Park
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“One classic American landscape haunts all of American literature. It is a picture of Eden, perceived at the instant of history when corruption has just begun to set in. The serpent has shown his scaly head in the undergrowth. The apple gleams on the tree. The old drama of the Fall is ready to start all over again.”
—Jonathan Raban (b. 1942)