National Register of Historic Places

Hornet Lookout

Flathead National Forest, Flathead County, Montana
Listed
August 18, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83001061

About this property

Hornet Lookout is a former fire lookout tower located in the Flathead National Forest and is located approximately 45 miles (72 km) north of Columbia Falls, Montana. On August 19, 1983, Hornet Lookout was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Hornet Lookout was constructed between 1922 and 1923 as a response to the great fire of 1910. It served as a part of the chain of lookouts providing forest fire detection in the North Fork area of the Flathead National Forest. The lookout was staffed each summer from 1923 until approximately 1946. Hornet Lookout represents a relatively short-lived architectural style of fire lookouts designed, constructed, and used in the US Forest Service Region 1. Hornet Lookout was constructed by US Forest Service seasonal employees at a cost of $719.38. All materials were either available on the site or were packed in by trail. Hornet Lookout is a D-l style US Forest Service fire lookout tower situated on the summit of Hornet Mountain. The building is a 14' by 14' single room log cabin. The cabin is made of 8-10 inch logs which are saddlenotched at the corners. The interior of the structure contains built-in storage containers, a wood burning stove, two bed frames and a hand crafted chair. The words "Hornet L.O." are spelled out in white painted rocks. The letters are approximately 4 ft. high and are located approximately 75 ft. to the east of Hornet Lookout. Hornet Lookout is available to rent from mid-June to October annually. The cost to rent the lookout is $40 per night.

Location

Flathead National Forest, Flathead County, Montana
48.87959, -114.51264

Categories

CONSERVATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Land
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Geology
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Wurtz Homestead
Industrial
5.8 mi
Kishenehn Ranger Station Historic District
Industrial
7 mi
Kintla Lake Ranger Station
Industrial
8.7 mi
Miller, J. K., Homestead
Industrial
8.8 mi
Schoenberger, Charlie, Homestead
Industrial
9.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hornet Lookout listed on the National Register?

Hornet Lookout was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 18, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Hornet Lookout?

Hornet Lookout is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hornet Lookout?

The period of significance for Hornet Lookout is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hornet Lookout?

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