Lassen Volcanic National Park
This park is located on the crest of the southern Cascade Range in the northern part of the US State of California.
It comprises about 106,000 acres, of which almost 79,000 acres are designated as wilderness area.
In 1905, Lassen National Forest was established. In 1907, President T. R. Roosevelt signed a proclamation establishing Cinder Cone and Lassen Peak as national monuments.
The first eruption of Lassen Peak occurred in May 1914. Lava issued from the peak, resulting in a mudflow, in May 1915.
Three days later, the Great Hot Blast and a second mudflow occurred. Several days later, the name Lassen Peak was adopted.
In August 1916, President Wilson signed the John Raker Bill, creating the national monument as a national park.
Prior to 1926, Lassen Volcanic National Park was administered by Yosemite. Thereafter, Lassen had its own superintendent. In the following year a volcanic observatory was established on the northwest slope of the mountain.
In the same year, the California legislature ceded jurisdiction of the park to the federal government.
In 1972, 482 acres were transferred to Lassen National Forest. Later that year, almost 78,982 acres of the park were established as wilderness.
In 1974, Manzanita Lake area was declared a hazard zone, and all facilities there were closed. This was partially reopened in 1976.
However, it was not until 1989 that all parts were reopened for day use.
In 1978, Lassen was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.
National parks are established only by an Act of Congress. National monuments can be established by Presidential Proclamation, but are usually established by an Act of Congress.
See maps of the park.
We would like to thank Naaman Horn, Park Ranger, at Lassen Volcanic National Park and the National Park Service for information provided for this and other pages on our website.
(This page was updated in November 2012.)
