Architects of the United States Forest Service are credited with the design of many buildings and other structures in National Forests that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to the significance of their architecture. A number of these architectural works are attributed to architectural groups within the Forest Service rather than to any individual architect. Architecture groups or sections were formed within engineering divisions of many of the regional offices of the Forest Service and developed regional styles.
National consulting architect W. Ellis Groben led development of architectural style for the Forest Service, including by his important 1940 document, "Architectural Trend of Future Forest Service Buildings" and by his 1938 compilation "Acceptable Building Plans: Forest Service Administrative Buildings". He advocated what is now known as non-intrusive architectural design, and advocated regional styles rather than universal style.
Architects of several regions and their works are discussed in the following sections, with the regions having the most information available about them first.
The architecture group of the Forest Service's Northwest regional office, Region 6, designed works in Oregon and Washington. At an early date the architecture group of this region included architects Linn A. Forrest, Howard L. Gifford, James Pollock and W.I. "Tim" Turner, and landscape architect Emmett U. Blanchfield. According to the National Register nomination for many of their works, "The style that emerged from the Pacific Northwest Region had no clearly identifiable architectural prototype, but reflected the influence of the English Cottage and Norman Farmhouse styles."
Ellis Groben, national leader of architecture in the Forest Service, reportedly "was impressed with the Northwest Cascadian style of architecture that was started by Tim Turner, Linn Forrest, Dean Wright, and Howard Gifford on Timberline Lodge and numerous CCC facilities in the Washington and Oregon area." Around 1951, architects of the region included A.P. "Benny" DiBenedetto, FAIA, Bill Hummel, Dick Parker, Ken Grimes, Doug Parmenter, and Norm Krause. Around 1958, Joe Mastrandrea, Perry Carter, Ken Reynolds, Terry Young, and Tom Morland joined the staff.
The Region 6 design team received several awards for laboratories in Oregon. DiBenedetto was elected to be president for the Oregon Council of Architects, to be Director of the Pacific and Northwest Region of the American Institute of Architects (ALA) and to serve on the National Board of AIA all while serving as Regional Architect in Region 6 (1951–1961) or as Station Architect, Pacific Northwest (1961–1979).
There are 25 locations whose design is attributed to the Region 6 group. Notable works of Region 6 architects (with attribution as given in NRHP listing if applicable) include:
Breitenbush Guard Station, Willamette National Forest, Detroit, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Butte Falls Ranger Station, Rogue River National Forest, Butte Falls, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Cabin Lake Guard Station, Deschutes National Forest, Bend, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Cascade Locks Work Center, Mt. Hood National Forest, Cascade Locks Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Cedar Guard Station No. 1019, Illinois Valley Rd., Siskiyou National Forest, Cave Junction, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Chatter Creek Guard Station, Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth, Washington (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Early Winters Ranger Station Work Center, Okanogan National Forest, Winthrop, Washington (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Glide Ranger Station, Umpqua National Forest, Glide, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Gold Beach Ranger Station, Siskiyou National Forest, Gold Beach, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Imnaha Guard Station, Rogue River National Forest, Butte Falls, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
John Day Compound, Supervisor's Warehouse, Malheur National Forest, John Day, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
La Wis Wis Guard Station No. 1165, Gifford Pinchot National Forest,Packwood, Washington (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Lake of the Woods Ranger Station-Work Center, Winema National Forest, Klamath Falls, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Lamonta Compound-Prineville Supervisor's Warehouse, Ochoco National Forest, Prineville, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Leavenworth Ranger Station, Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth, Washington (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Lick Creek Guard Station, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Enterprise, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Lost Lake Guard Station, Okanogan National Forest, Tonasket, Washington (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
North Fork Guard Station No. 1142, Randle Ranger Station, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Randle, Washington (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Olympus Guard Station, Olympia National Park, NRHP-listed
Oregon State Forester's Office Building, 2600 State Street, Salem, Oregon (Linn A. Forrest, Sr.)
Parkdale Ranger Station, Mt. Hood National Forest, Parkdale, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Paulina Lake Guard Station, Deschutes National Forest, Bend, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Randle Ranger Station-Work Center, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Randle, Washington (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Silcox Hut, near Timberline Lodge, Oregon (Tim Turner)
Store Gulch Guard Station No. 1020, Illinois Valley Rd., Siskiyou National Forest, Cave Junction, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Supervisor's House No. 1001, Malheur National Forest, John Day, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, near Government Camp, Oregon (W. I. Turner, et al.)
Unity Ranger Station, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Unity, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Verlot Ranger Station-Public Service Center, Mt. Baker, Snoqualmie National Forest, Granite Falls, Washington (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
Zigzag Ranger Station, Mt. Hood National Forest, Zigzag, Oregon (USDA Forest Svce. Architecture Group), NRHP-listed
In Region 3, standard plans were prepared under direction from the National Forest's Washington office, but architects at the Region 3 office created plans in the Bungalow style. Bungalow style had been popular for small houses in the U.S. from about 1905 to 1930, and was waning in popularity when Region 3 adopted it. The Region 3 architects further adapted the floor plans of this style for wood frame and for masonry construction in different environmental areas (timbered areas vs. grasslands vs. desert), and adopted Spanish Eclectic and Pueblo Revival styling for desert models. But the low cost of the Bungalow style led to it being used in desert areas, too.
Notable works of Region 3 architects include:
Copper Creek Guard Station, NE of Black Canyon City, Tonto National Forest, Black Canyon City, AZ (USDA Forest Service), Bungalow/Craftsman style, NRHP-listed
Beaver Creek Ranger Station, Off I-17 NE of Rimrock, Coconino NF, Rimrock, AZ (USDA Forest Service), Bungalow/Craftsman style, NRHP-listed
Big Springs Ranger Station, Along Ryan Rd., Kaibab NF, Big Springs, AZ (Usda Forest Service), Bungalow/Craftsman style, NRHP-listed
Camp Clover Ranger Station, Off US 66/89 SW of Williams, Kaibab NF, Williams, AZ (USDA Forest Service), Bungalow/Craftsman style, NRHP-listed
Canelo Ranger Station, Forest Rd. 52B N of Canelo, Coronado NF, Canelo, AZ (USDA Forest Service), Bungalow/Craftsman style, NRHP-listed
Cima Park Fire Guard Station, in Chiricahua Wilderness NE of Douglas, Coronado National Forest, Douglas, AZ (USDA Forest Service), "vernacular, log" architecture, NRHP-listed
Columbine Work Station, AZ 366 SW of Safford, Coronado National Forest, Safford, AZ (USDA Forest Service), Bungalow/Craftsman style, NRHP-listed
Crown King Ranger Station, W of Crown King, Prescott National Forest, Crown King, AZ (USDA Forest Service), Bungalow/Craftsman, NRHP-listed
Lowell Ranger Station, Off Sabino Canyon Rd. NE of Tucson, Coronado National Forest, Tucson, AZ (USDA Forest Service), Pueblo architecture, NRHP-listed
Moqui Ranger Station, Off US 180 N of Tusayan, Kaibab National Forest, Tusayan, AZ (USDA Forest Service), Bungalow/Craftsman, Rustic architecture, NRHP-listed
Pinal Ranger Station, S of Globe, Tonto National Forest, Globe, AZ (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Pinedale Ranger Station, Forest Rd. 130 (formerly AZ 260), Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Pinedale, AZ (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Pleasant Valley Ranger Station, S of AZ 288, Tonto National Forest, Young, AZ (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Portal Ranger Station, Forest Rd. 42A SW of Portal, Coronado National Forest, Portal, AZ (Usda Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Rustler Park Fire Guard Station, SE of Chiricahua NM, Coronado National Forest, Douglas, AZ (Usda Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Sedona Ranger Station, Brewer Rd. S. of Hart Rd., Sedona AZ (USDA/USFS Standard Plans), NRHP-listed
Sunflower Ranger Station, AZ 87 W of Punkin Center, Tonto National Forest, Punkin Center, AZ (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Sycamore Ranger Station, Forest Rd. 68F SW of Camp Verde, Prescott National Forest, Camp Verde, AZ (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Walnut Creek Ranger Station, NW of Prescott, Prescott National Forest, Prescott, AZ (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Water Canyon Administrative Site, Forest Rd. 285 S of Springerville, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Springerville, AZ (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Notable works of Region 2 architects (with attribution as given in NRHP listing, if applicable) include:
Brush Creek Work Center, WY 130 E of Saratoga, Medicine Bow National Forest, Saratoga, WY (USDA Forest Service, Region 2), NRHP-listed
Centennial Work Center, Off WY 130 NW of Centennial, Medicine Bow NF, Centennial, WY (USDA Forest Service, Region 2), NRHP-listed
Keystone Work Center, W of Albany, Medicine Bow NF, Albany, WY (USDA Forest Service, Region 2), NRHP-listed
La Prele Work Center, SW of Douglas, Medicine Bow NF, Douglas, WY (USDA Forest Service, Region 2), NRHP-listed
Notable architects of Region 5, California, include Keplar B. Johnson
The Lamoille Organization Camp near Lamoille in Elko County, Nevada is a work of the Region 4 Forest Service.
Also the Paradise Valley Ranger Station, in Humboldt County, Nevada, is a work of Forest Service design, built by the CCC.
Notable works of other areas' architects (with attribution as given in NRHP listing, if applicable) include:
Kawishiwi Field Laboratory, Minnesota, preservation supported by National Trust for Historic Preservation, deemed NRHP-eligible
Arctic Point Fire Lookout, N of Big Creek, Idaho Primitive Area, Payette National Forest, Big Creek, ID (USDA Forest Service), with Aermotor fire tower assembled by Forest Service, plus additional Forest Service structures. NRHP-listed
Atlanta Ranger Station Historic District, Boise National Forest, Atlanta, ID (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Big Creek Commissary, Yellow Pine, Payette National Forest, Big Creek, ID (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Carey Dome Fire Lookout, Payette National Forest, 9 mi. N of USFS Burgdorf Guard Sta, Burgdorf, ID (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Dam-Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, Sitting Bull Falls, Lincoln National Forest, Carlsbad, NM (USDA-Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Group Picnic Shelter-Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, Sitting Bull Falls, Lincoln National Forest, Carlsbad, NM (USDA-Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Isabella Ranger Station, Address Restricted, Isabella, MN (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Ketchikan Ranger House, 309 Gorge St., Ketchikan, AK (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Mallard Peak Lookout, SE of Avery, ID (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Mondeaux Dam Recreation Area, Roughly bounded by Mondeaux River and Forest Rd., Westboro, WI (USDA Forest Service), NRHP-listed
Picnic Shelter-Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, Sitting Bull Falls, Lincoln National Forest, Carlsbad, NM (USDA-Forest Service), NRHP-listed
