Congress has appropriated $1,733,000 to rehabilitate four historic structures within the Rim Village Historic District. The structures include the Sinnott Memorial Overlook and Museum, the Community House, the Kiser Studio, and the Plaza Comfort Station. These facilities have served visitors since the 1920s and 1930s. Their designs represent various interpretations of the rustic style of architecture developed so that each building would appear to fit compatibly into the surrounding natural landscape. Stones, boulders, wood siding, and heavy wooden beams used in their construction complement the great trees and rugged geology of the park.

The Rim Village Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. This project represents the National Park Service's continuing commitment to upgrade and maintain visitor facilities at Rim Village while preserving the historic character of this significant cultural resource. The most recent Rim Village project was the rehabilitation of Crater Lake Lodge, completed in 1994 and reopened for guests in 1995.

Work on the four historic structures will begin during August 2000, and continue through the summer of 2001. When they reopen to the public for the summer of 2002, visitors will again be able to enjoy panoramic Crater Lake views and interpretive exhibits at the Sinnott Memorial Overlook and Museum, and evening ranger programs at the Community House. The Kiser Studio will continue to serve as a summer visitor contact station until a planned year-round visitor center is built in the vicinity of the cafeteria/gift shop sometime in the near future. The Plaza Comfort Station will be upgraded and made handicapped accessible.

Sinnott Memorial Overlook and Museum

Completed by the National Park Service in 1931, this facility provided panoramic scenic views to the public from an easily accessible point just below the rim of the caldera. The museum behind the balcony contained artwork that encouraged visitors to understand and appreciate the majestic scenery and unusual natural features of the park. Its exterior design of large boulders blends into the landscape, making it one of the best examples of rustic architecture in the National Park Service. It is difficult to locate from tour boats on the lake. Walk the promenade along the edge of the rim westward from Crater Lake Lodge, and see for yourself how well it fits into the caldera wall.

Kiser Studio

Built and operated during the 1920s by noted photographer Fred Kiser, the studio provided a work area for producing souvenir hand-tinted photographs of the park for sale to visitors. Photographs were taken in black and white and then colorized with oil paints by Kiser's employees.

Community House

Built during the 1920s, the Community House provided a place of education and entertainment for Rim Village's overnight lodgers and campers. Glass lantern-slides were used by rangers for visual presentations during lectures much like the today's photographic slide shows. Music and dancing were among the amusements visitors enjoyed after an active day of exploring the park.

Plaza Comfort Station

This restroom was built during the 1930s. At the time, the National Park Service felt that it was important for structures to fit into the landscape rather than detract from it. Even this tour relatively mundane visitor facility was treated architecturally in the same way as other more significant park buildings. Its style is the same as the Sinnott Memorial Overlook and Museum.