Photo by Ed Sozinho The 18,000-square-foot visitor center at Paradise opened in 2008. It was built with granite from a nearby quarry.

The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise on Mount Rainier, through its use of simple, historic forms and natural materials, has a contemporary Northwest rustic architectural expression designed to be compatible with the other buildings in the park’s National Historic Landmark District.

Granite was chosen from a nearby quarry for its compatibility with the existing stone masonry and for its strength and durability. The exterior is subject to snow and ice avalanching off the roof and impacting the building.