- Cincinnati Observatory
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Cincinnati Observatory
Original building atop Mt. Lookout
Location: Observatory Historic District; 3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, Ohio Coordinates: 39°8′19″N 84°25′22″W / 39.13861°N 84.42278°WCoordinates: 39°8′19″N 84°25′22″W / 39.13861°N 84.42278°W Built: 1873 Architect: Samuel Hannaford Architectural style: Greek Revival Governing body: State MPS: Samuel Hannaford and Sons TR in Hamilton County NRHP Reference#: 80003043 Significant dates Added to NRHP: March 3, 1980[1] Designated NHL: December 9, 1997[2] The Cincinnati Observatory, located in Cincinnati, Ohio (USA) on top of Mt. Lookout. It consists of two observatory buildings housing an 11 inch (28 cm) and 16 inch (41 cm) aperture refracting telescope. It is the oldest professional observatory in the United States. It was a key facility for astronomical research and education at the University of Cincinnati and is still owned by the university. The observatory currently operates as a 19th century observatory. There are regular viewings through both historical telescopes as well as tours and additional programs. The observatory also has an extensive outreach program, providing astronomical education for the Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana region.
The Cincinnati Observatory is a contributing property to the Observatory Historic District.
Contents
History
Cincinnati Observatory was built by Ormsby M. Mitchel atop Mount Ida, a hill that overlooks downtown Cincinnati. The cornerstone was laid on November 9, 1843, and presiding over the occasion was former President John Quincy Adams. At 77 years old, it was to be his last public speech, and Mount Ida was renamed to Mount Adams in his honor.
In 1871, the Observatory came under the control of the University of Cincinnati and in 1873 it was moved from Mt. Adams to Mt. Lookout, where it remains today. In 1998 the Observatory became a National Historic Landmark.
The asteroid 1373 Cincinnati was named to honor the staff of the observatory.
Instruments
Illustration of the 11 inch "Merz and Mahler" refracting telescope (from "Smith's Illustrated Astronomy" 1848).
- The 1843 Merz und Mahler 11 inch refractor – Housed in the "Mitchel Building". May be the oldest continually used telescope in the world. It is currently used for public education programs.
- The 1904 Alvan Clark & Sons 16 inch refractor – Housed in the "Main Building". Used in public education programs and graduate research.
See also
- List of observatories
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ "Cincinnati Observatory". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-1292477379&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
External links
- Cincinnati Observatory Center
- Cincinnati Observatory Center Clear Sky Clock Forecasts of observing conditions.
- Merz und Mahler telescope photos
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Alms and Doepke Dry Goods Company • Balch House • Brittany Apartment Building • A. E. Burckhardt House • C. H. Burroughs House • Calvary Episcopal Church • John Church Company Building • Cincinnati City Hall • Cincinnati Music Hall • Cincinnati Observatory Building • Cincinnati Work House and Hospital • College Hill Town Hall • George B. Cox House • Cummins School • Cuvier Press Club • H. W. Derby Building • A. M. Detmer House • Eden Park Stand Pipe • Eden Park Station No. 7 • Edgecliff • Eighteenth District School • Elsinore Arch • Episcopal Church of the Resurrection • Walter Field House • First German Methodist Episcopal Church • First Universalist Church • Samuel Hannaford House • Hooper Building • George Hummel House • Krippendorf-Dittman Company • Lombardy Apartment Building • S. C. Mayer House • Charles A. Miller House • Richard H. Mitchell House • Morrison House • Northside United Methodist Church • Ohio National Guard Armory • Our Lady of Mercy High School • Palace Hotel • Phoenix Club • Police Station No. 5 • Henry Powell House • Probasco Fountain • Ransley Apartment Building • Charles B. Russell House • Sacred Heart Academy • St. George Parish and Newman Center • William Salway House • Saxony Apartment Building • George Scott House • Spring Grove Cemetery Chapel • Capt. Stone House • Walnut Hills United Presbyterian Church • Westwood United Methodist Church • Winton Place Methodist Episcopal Church • Mary A. Wolfe House • Wyoming Presbyterian Church
Categories:- Samuel Hannaford and Sons Thematic Resources
- 1843 establishments in the United States
- Astronomical observatories in Ohio
- National Historic Landmarks in Ohio
- Planetaria in the United States
- Visitor attractions in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Education in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Buildings and structures in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Astronomical observatory stubs
- Cincinnati, Ohio stubs
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