The purpose statement explains why Crater The National Park was established. The following statements were taken from the park's establishing legislation (16 USC 121).

Crater Lake National Park is a tract of land encompassing 183,244 acres "dedicated and set apart forever as a public park or pleasure ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the United States" (16  USC 121). The act that established the park required that adequate measures be taken for the "preservation of the natural objects...the protection of the timber...the preservation of all kinds of game and fish." The act required that the park be available, under regulations established by the Department of the Interior, for use by "scientists, excursionists, and pleasure seekers."

The act that established the National Park Service requires, among other things, the agency "promote and regulate the use of national parks...by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of said parks...by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of said parks...which purpose is to conserve the scenery..." Crater Lake's enabling legislation provides for visitor accomodations by stating that "restaurant and hotel keepers, upon application to the Secretary of the Interior, may be permitted by him to establish places of entertainment within the Crater Lake National Park for the  accommodation of visitors, at places and under regulations fixed by the Secretary of the Interior, and not otherwise."