Recently I was on a night sky photography journey in Eastern Washington, near Steamboat Rock and Banks Lake. Always on the lookout for a night sky vista, I stumbled upon Crown Point Vista and spent 2 nights there, on the Autumnal Equinox.

The Crown Point Vista was first envisioned in 1946 as a way to attract tourists. Here is a sketch of the original design. You can read more in this article:

Grand Point Vista – A Forgotten Dream

The night-time scenery is magical at the Vista, the stars are very bright. To the north there was a faint glow of the Aurora. Satellites streak across. Sundial, generator or astronomical observatory, who can say?