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Baker Municipal Natatorium - Baker City, OR
Posted by:
Volcanoguy
N 44° 46.883 W 117° 49.535
11T E 434684 N 4958996
The Baker Municipal Natatorium was constructed in 1920.
Waymark Code: WM359W
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 02/11/2008
Views: 48
The Baker Municipal Natatorium building served as a community center and natatorium for Baker City from 1921 until the beginning of World War II. The building had steambaths, showers, meeting rooms, a maple floored ballroom, and an full Olympic sized pool. By the late 1930s use was dropping and with the start of World War II use further declined so the City decided to close in Natatorium. The building was converted to a war production in 1943. Following the war the National Guard used the building for drills for a while. The pool was filled and capped with dirt and used for a variety of purposes including 4-H barn, city garage and a temporary fire station. By 1975 the people of Baker City considered the abandoned building as an eyesore and the a contract was let to demolish the “Nat”. Following delays the Baker County Historical Society proposed the creation of a museum in the “Nat” and the City agreed to lease the building at no cost to the BCHS as long as the building was run as a museum. Thousands of hours of volunteer labor and donated funds resulted in the opening of a small museum in 1982, occupying two rooms. Today the Oregon Trail Regional Museum operated by the BCHS occupies the entire building. The above information comes from the Oregon Trail Regional Museum visitor handout.
Street address: 2470 Grove Street Baker City, ORegon United States 97814
![](/images/spacer.gif) County / Borough / Parish: Baker
![](/images/spacer.gif) Year listed: 1977
![](/images/spacer.gif) Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
![](/images/spacer.gif) Periods of significance: 1900-1924
![](/images/spacer.gif) Historic function: Recreation and Culture
![](/images/spacer.gif) Current function: Museum
![](/images/spacer.gif) Privately owned?: no
![](/images/spacer.gif) Season start / Season finish: From: 04/01/2008 To: 10/31/2008
![](/images/spacer.gif) Hours of operation: From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 PM
![](/images/spacer.gif) Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
![](/images/spacer.gif) Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
![](/images/spacer.gif) Secondary Website 2: Not listed
![](/images/spacer.gif) National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.