Rosario (estate)

Historic house in Washington, United States

United States historic place

Rosario

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Location| South of East Sound on
Orcas Island, Washington
Coordinates| 48°38′43″N 122°52′20″W﻿ / ﻿48.64537°N 122.87230°W﻿ / 48.64537; -122.87230
Area| 84 acres (34 ha)
Built| 1906-1909
Architect| Moran, Robert
Architectural style| Arts and Craft, Nautical
NRHP reference No.| 78002772
Added to NRHP| November 2, 1978

Rosario is the former estate of Seattle mayor and shipbuilder Robert Moran and is located on Orcas Island, Washington in the San Juan archipelago. Portions of the estate became part of Moran State Park in the early 1920s and the site has been of use as the Rosario Resort and Spa since 1960. The estate was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

## History

[edit]

Due to poor health, Robert Moran, a former Seattle Mayor and shipbuilder, moved to Orcas Island and between 1906 and 1909 built his estate.[1] Wood and stone material found on the island were used to construct the estate's houses and buildings. In 1921, Moran gave a large portion of his property to the state of Washington for the creation of Moran State Park.[2] Moran sold the resort in 1938 and the mansion and its grounds have been sold several times since, but remained in private hands. It began operating as the Rosario Resort and Spa in 1960.[3]

The Rosario Resort was listed for sale in 2023 and by February 2024, the resort was temporarily closed after the sale was completed. The new owners planned to renovate the building with particular attention to the Moran Mansion. During the closure, the marina and grounds remained open for use.[4] The resort, excepting the mansion, was partially reopened two months later. The final sale cost was listed as more than $20 million.[5]

Rosario was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[2][6]

## Architecture and design

[edit]

Constructed in an Arts & Crafts style, the 5-story resort was named after the Rosario Strait and contains a music room that features a 1913 two-story 34-rank German-style Aeolian organ consisting of over 1,900 pipes and a 1900 Steinway grand piano.[1][2][6] The hotel was also designed in a nautical style, containing stained glass windows, a Tiffany chandelier, and two libraries. The 84-acre (34 ha) grounds[5][a] were designed with paths and water features.[4] The Rosario mansion features a museum honoring Robert Moran, complete with original furnishings.[2][6]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Acreage of the grounds at Rosario has fluctuated mildly in reporting during and immediately after the 2024 estate sale, usually mentioning a measurement above 80 acres.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Eals, Clay (March 23, 2023). "Rosario Resort, the Orcas showpiece of a former Seattle mayor, is for sale". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
2. ^ a b c d "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Rosario". National Park Service. November 2, 1978. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
3. ^ Sundell, Allison (February 13, 2024). "Rosario Resort to temporarily close during renovations, ownership transition". KING5 News (Seattle). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
4. ^ a b c Phair, Vonnai (February 13, 2024). "Rosario Resort on Orcas Island to be sold; temporary closure ahead". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
5. ^ a b Groover, Heidi (April 10, 2024). "Rosario Resort on Orcas Island reopens, promises new amenities". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
6. ^ a b c "Rosario Resort and Spa". Retrieved January 12, 2015.

* v
* t
* e

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Topics|

* Architectural style categories
* Contributing property
* Historic district
* History of the National Register of Historic Places
* Keeper of the Register
* National Park Service
* Property types

Lists by state|

* List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state:
* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Lists by insular areas|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Minor Outlying Islands
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* Virgin Islands

Lists by associated state|

* Federated States of Micronesia
* Marshall Islands
* Palau

Other areas|

* District of Columbia
* American Legation, Morocco

Related|

* National Historic Preservation Act
* Historic Preservation Fund
* List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places
* University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places

* National Register of Historic Places portal
* Category

*[No.]: number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template