1890s or early 1900s

With a glass in one hand and a staff in the other in this 1890s or early 1900s photograph, Virinda Longmire represents two qualities — hospitality and strength — symbolizing the settlers of the Wild West. She and her husband, James Longmire, traveled from Indiana to Washington in 1853 with the first wagon train to successfully cross the Naches Pass through the Cascade Mountains, north of Mount Rainier. Their children Elaine, David, John and Tibatha made the hard trip with them. In 1883 James Longmire discovered Longmire Springs and built a trail from there to Succotash Valley in Ashford. In 1906 the Longmires built the 30-room Longmire Springs Hotel. However, the National Park Service prohibited James’ son Robert from opening a saloon. Eventually, the Rainier National Park Company demolished the original Longmire Springs Hotel and utility buildings. Today, Longmire is the site of the National Park Inn, the Longmire Museum and a Wilderness Information Center. After Paradise, Longmire is the second most popular area in Mount Rainier National Park.

Originally submitted by Mount Rainier National Park for Our Hometowns.