Sinnott Memorial Observation Station

Sinnott Memorial Observation Station is a structure built into a cliff rising about 910 feet (275 m) above Crater Lake, offering views across the deep blue water. The building contains a roughly 40-by-40-foot room with exhibits about Mount Mazama's geological formation.

Congress authorized construction in 1930 as a memorial to Representative Nicholas J Sinnott, who championed Crater Lake National Park. The station was built on Victor Rock, where it has served as a key viewpoint in the park ever since.

The building displays the National Park Service rustic style, using native stone and concrete with log beams that became a model for later park structures. The design merges quietly with the cliff face where it was built.

Visitors reach the station by descending a staircase from Rim Village, with views of the lake visible from several positions inside the room. Getting there requires leaving the rim road and a short downhill walk to the building, making good footwear advisable.

The building sits about 50 feet below the caldera rim and conceals a small workroom measuring roughly 12 by 14 feet behind a stone wall. This hidden area was used for daily operations and maintenance and goes unnoticed by many visitors.

Location: Klamath County

Inception: 1931

Architects: Merel S. Sager, National Park Service

Architectural style: rustic architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.91154,-122.14293

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:40