Historical Observatories

Harvard

Harvard's 15-inch refractor
Harvard’s 15-inch refractor

The Harvard College Observatory can be traced back to 1839, with its first permanent installation being its 15-inch refractor, which was brought from Europe in 1847, after the people of Boston were inspired by the comet of 1843.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati Observatory
Cincinnati Observatory

The Cincinnati Observatory was founded in 1843, with its first telescope installed in 1845, and was moved to its current site in 1873. Their first telescope, along with a 1904 Alvan Clark and Sonstelescope, are in current use for public viewing programs.