POST-WORLD WAR II AND OPERATION OUTDOORS
Following World War II, the context of recreation
use and architecture in the United States
changed again. The post-war economic boom
created demand for recreation on the national
forests. It also increased distribution of
manufactured and finished materials throughout
the country.
In 1956, the National Park Service began
“Mission 66,” a 10-year program to upgrade
its facilities by the agency’s 50th anniversary.
The Forest Service began a parallel program
called “Operation Outdoors” in 1957. Designers
in both programs consciously departed from
the nostalgic rustic style and embraced the
tenets of the international style and modern
design. This style included simple forms with
clean, straight edges; functional design with
little ornamentation or decoration; and the
use of manufactured rather than handcrafted
materials.
In addition, construction practices reflected a
new era of manufacturing technology, distribution
processes, and human resources. As such,
facilities from that era reflect the practical
realities and the spirit of their time as clearly as
those built by the CCC. This modern era resulted
in some landmark structures, as well as many
other examples of design excellence. In other
cases, the new manufactured materials proved
less durable than the natural materials of the
rustic era. Many people sensed that modern
design, in general, was less evocative of and
sensitive to the forest settings.