Sinnott Memorial Observation Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sinnott Memorial Building No. 67
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| Location | Crater Lake National Park, Oregon |
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| Nearest city | Fort Klamath, Oregon |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | National Park Service, Merel Sager |
| Architectural style | National Park Service Rustic |
| MPS | Crater Lake National Park MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002623 |
| Added to NRHP | December 1, 1988 |
The Sinnott Memorial Observation Station is a special viewing spot at Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon, United States. It's built right into the side of the huge cliff, about 900 feet (274 meters) above the beautiful blue water of Crater Lake. You can find it close to the Rim Village Visitor Center.
This building also has a small museum inside. The museum teaches you about how Mount Mazama was formed and how Crater Lake came to be. Even though its official name is the Nicholas J. Sinnott Memorial Observation Station and Museum, most people just call it the Sinnott Memorial Overlook or the Sinnott Viewing Area. It's important because it was the first building the National Park Service ever built just to be a museum. It was also the first building in Crater Lake National Park to use a special style called rustic stone masonry. This building is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Sinnott Memorial Building No. 67.
Contents
History of Sinnott Memorial
The Sinnott Memorial was built with money from the United States Congress. They gave $10,000 to create it. The building was made to honor Nicholas J. Sinnott. He was a representative for eastern Oregon in the United States House of Representatives from 1913 to 1928.
As the leader of the House Public Lands Committee, Sinnott strongly supported Crater Lake National Park. He passed away in 1929, not long after he retired from Congress. Congress wanted the Sinnott Memorial to be a place to see the lake, but also a museum. It was actually the first museum building ever built in a national park because Congress specifically asked for it.
Designing the Observation Station
A landscape architect named Merel S. Sager designed the building. He was a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first to use the rustic style of architecture for park buildings. To make sure visitors would have an amazing view, Sager picked a spot called Victor Rock. This spot is 900 feet (274 meters) above the lake.
Building the observation station started in the fall of 1930. While it was being built, Sager spent many hours in a rowboat on the lake. He wanted to make sure the building looked like it was part of the caldera cliff. Because of his careful planning, the building offers incredible views of Crater Lake and the mountains around it. But, if you look up from the lake below, you can barely see the building at all!
Opening and Renovations
The building was finished the next summer, in 1931. It was officially opened on July 16, 1931. Important people like Horace M. Albright, who was the director of the National Park Service, came to the opening. Once it was open, people quickly made it one of the most popular places to view Crater Lake.
Before the park's 100th birthday in 2003, the Sinnott Memorial Building was completely updated. The museum exhibits were also made new. These new exhibits cost $425,000. They have easy-to-understand displays and a video. The video shows how Mount Mazama was created, how it collapsed, and how Crater Lake was formed.
Structure of Sinnott Memorial
The Sinnott Memorial Observation Station is built on Victor Rock. This rock sticks out from the side of Crater Lake's caldera wall. It's about 50 feet (15 meters) below the very top of the cliff. This building was the first in the park to be built using logs and stone. Its rustic style set the example for how other buildings in Crater Lake National Park would look.
Exploring the Building
To reach the Sinnott building, visitors walk down a short path with steps from Rim Village. The entrance door opens into a large room, about 40 feet by 40 feet (12 by 12 meters). This is the observation room. On the north side of the room, there's an open-air balcony. From here, visitors get an amazing view of the lake. A log roof, which sticks out without support (called a cantilever roof), covers the balcony.
The museum exhibits are in the middle of the observation room and along the walls. These exhibits teach about the geological history of Mount Mazama and how Crater Lake was formed. There's also a hidden workroom next to the museum area. A door on the east side of the room leads to the exit stairs, which are hidden by a stone wall.
Building Materials and Updates
The building is made from heavy, local stone and concrete. Log beams support the roof. The shape of the building is a bit uneven because it was designed to blend in with the cliff. The stone walls hold up the building, and the rough rock on the outside walls helps it look natural with the landscape.
In the 1930s, the building's roof was rebuilt with asphalt and lead to stop leaks. In 1961, flat stones (called flagstone) were added to the floor inside and to the patio outside the entrance. The entire building was updated again in 2003. Even with these changes over the years, the National Park Service has worked hard to keep the building's original rustic look. Because it's so important for its architecture and history, the Sinnott Memorial Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
