Built in 1854, high on a hill overlooking the Huron River, this Greek Revival structure with Italianate details was the University’s first scientific laboratory. Now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the fully restored observatory serves as both a museum and a center for scholarship on 19th century science, technology and culture. QUINN EVANS | ARCHITECTS’ approach to the restoration gave meticulous attention to the building’s history, refurbishing the historic telescopes and making features such as the rotating dome and the pulley-operated hatch fully functional. Original features and finishes on all three levels of the structure, as well as the exterior of the building, were painstakingly restored to their original condition. See related link: The Restoration Plan |
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