In 1914-15, B.F. Loomis became a widely known  photographer for his stunning photographs of the Lassen Peak volcanic eruptions.  Loomis was fortunate since he operated a hotel at nearby Viola, a short distance from the peak. Loomis would become an ardent supporter of Lassen Volcanic National Park. In 1926, Loomis purchased 40-acres near Reflection Lake, which at that time was not inside the park. In 1927, he built a museum of native stone and reinforced concrete. The museum served two purposes.  One, it allowed him to showcase his famed photographic collection of the Lassen Peak eruptions, previously on display at his hotel at Viola. The second it served as a memorial to his only child Louise Mae, who died in 1920. In 1929, he donated the property to the park, which in turn the park gave him a life estate to the museum property. Loomis, by the way, passed away in 1935.

Fast forward to the 1970s and the Manzanita Lake Controversy. On April 26, 1974, park officials announced the abrupt closure of the Manzanita Lake facilities due to geological hazards. This did not go over well—and is a story in itself. The park had to decide what to do with the various buildings such as Manzanita Lake Lodge. After numerous debates spanning a decade it was decided to demolish all the buildings., including the Loomis Museum, which received a last minute reprieve. Day use slowly resumed, and in time a portion of the Manzanita Lake campground reopened.

In August 1991, the park celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special reopening of the Loomis Museum. The park had been slowly renovating the historic structure, which in 1975 was placed on National Register of Historic Places. In 1993, the museum was fully rehabilitated, and once again opened on a permanent seasonal basis, as it had done since 1927.

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