Mystical Horizons, North Dakota’s Stonehenge

mystical-horizons-3

photo in the public domain

We’ve been working on getting photos of this structure which is named Mystical Horizons and is often billed as a Stonehenge for the 21st century. We have received no answers from the photographers, but finally found this rather nice photo posted on a tourist site and marked clearly “in the public domain.” Thank you, internets! [Sorry, our old links are dead. Here’s one given us in a comment by one Gentle Reader.]

The wall by the benches has notches that line up with the standing stones to capture the sun near the horizon on certain crucial days during the year. There is also a star tube for viewing Polaris. This really is a 21st century creation in the sense that it lacks the ponderousness and wonder of Stonehenge and also takes the guesswork out of the viewing process. It seems very user-friendly: stand here, look there. Not in the ancient mysterious style at all!

We’re probably influenced by the beauty of the flat land and the distant horizon, because it isn’t a Stonehenge replica in any real sense–not a lintel in sight!–and yet we’re awarding it a score of 6½ druids. Something about it and its command of the wide horizon musters enough wonder in us to make it seem special. Nicely done!

11 thoughts on “Mystical Horizons, North Dakota’s Stonehenge

  1. I just took some pretty good pictures of it today. I would be happy to share if someone would tell me how 🙂

  2. If Steve Jobs had decided to produce a Stonehenge, he would have approved this one. 21st Century Stylish !

  3. I took this picture at the very first Winter Solstice after the structures were completed. North Dakota’s newest landmark is Mystical Horizons, the “Stonehenge” of the prairie. Based on local engineer and designer Jack Olson’s vision for a 21st-century Stonehenge, the Mystical Horizons site offers a breathtaking view overlooking the farmland west of the Turtle Mountains. The stone and cement structures are designed so that visitors can view the summer and winter solstices and the equinox. Throughout the year, site goers can enjoy the North Star Polaris Sighting Tube and the sundial.

  4. here’s a working link (the links above are dead) to a good image of the site from the county website (although it doesn’t have any information about it):

    thanks for the great blog

  5. Pingback: Kansas presents Stonehenge, Jr.: Wichita’s Stonehenge? « Clonehenge

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