The new Administration Building was completed in the autumn of 1935 and park personnel moved their summer offices into the structure in June 1936. Superintendent Canfield noted happily that the building "can be regarded as one of the most modern in any of the parks," and he observed that the "new headquarters supply sufficient room for park administrative activities, eliminating crowded conditions which had been such a handicap for years." According to the superintendent park visitors were favorably impressed by the structure and the remark was commonly heard that "the Government is giving the taxpayers something substantial for tax money." [Historic Resource Study]

Canfield continued to be pleased with the new Administration Building. In 1937 he observed:

The novelty of having adequate space to carry on park business had not yet disappeared at the end of the year, crowded conditions of previous years and rat-infested quarters in a decrepit log building still being too fresh in memory. Park visitors still continue to be impressed with the dignified architecture of the building and as in the first year are frequent in complimentary expressions. [Historic Resource Study]

By 1932 no administration building per se had yet been provided for the park. Up to 1924 the administrative office had been located in an old two-room ranger station on the Annie Spring plaza. In that year the office was moved to park headquarters into an old log bunkhouse erected about 1912 by army engineers engaged in road work. This building was a temporary structure to house road gangs, but lack of appropriations had compelled its conversion to office purposes by the addition of a small log wing in 1925. Besides being too small, "it is dark, cold, drafty, dirty and verminous and . . . a disgrace to the Government." In 1933 $18,000 was alotted for the erection of a new building, but not until the spring of 1934 was the old log Administration Building razed so that construction could begin on the new one. [Historic Resource Study]

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