The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by krisoft on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @03:06PM (#46697087)

But is the star map there? This article seems to imply that it got demolished in 2022: https://www.oskarjwhansen.org/news/save-the-star-map

If so that is somewhat ironic. A message intended to communicate a date to thousands of years into the future got demolished a mere 86 years after its creation due to a drainage issue and a contract dispute.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by ofalkaed on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @03:59PM (#46697675)

It is currently under reconstruction, it sounds like much of it was beyond salvage and has to be remade but it is difficult to find much info on this, bits and pieces strewn about the web. The project was resumed in 2023 and the BOR stated they were still committed to reconstructing the star map. In 2024 they completed the new underlayment and I have yet to find anything from 2025 other than that Monument plaza is still closed to the public.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by joezydeco on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @03:24PM (#46697305)

It's in pieces, evidenced here: https://www.oskarjwhansen.org/news/save-the-star-map-decembe...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by Tylast on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @03:28PM (#46697352)

At a loss for words. :|

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by rburhum on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @03:53PM (#46697623)

That is a crime of humanity. Terrible!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by echelon on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @08:28PM (#46700079)

This is horrible! I always wanted to visit this. :(

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by tempaccsoz5 on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @04:26PM (#46697949)

The same website says that as of 2024, it is slowly being reconstructed: https://www.oskarjwhansen.org/news/2024-hoover-dam-star-map-...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by andrejk on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @06:47PM (#46699282)

I'd have to look at what it looked like before, but when I visited there earlier this month, I didn't see any restoration in progress and the star map was open. I didn't take a ton of photos in that area, and here are the only two of the monument I grabbed:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qgJ3x5za82EiFz5P7

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by krisoft on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @08:15PM (#46699988)

Thank you for the confirmation! This is so good to hear.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by tyuu on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @08:13PM (#46699968)

This is the second-best way to doxx HN users I've ever seen.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by istjohn on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @08:52PM (#46700238)

And the best way is...?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by bravoetch on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @11:03PM (#46700956)

Job ads. It's job ads.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by waterheater on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @07:13PM (#46699521)

From my cursory web searches, your photos may be the first online evidence that the restoration project was indeed completed.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The 26,000-Year Astronomical Monument Hidden in Plain Sight by venusenvy47 on Tuesday January 20, 2026 @09:49PM (#46700566)

On Google maps, someone posted a photo from 9 months ago, explaining the restoration.

[ Parent | on HN ]