Detroit Observatory, Ann Arbor

The Detroit Observatory presents an intersection of history, architecture, and astronomy. Constructed between 1853 and 1854 in a blend of Greek Revival and Italianate styles, it was the University of Michigan’s first scientific research facility and remains one of the oldest structures of its kind in the United States. The layout features a two-story central section topped with a rotating wooden-and-canvas dome that originally housed the Henry Fitz Jr. refracting telescope-at the time the third-largest in the world-flanked by wings designed for a meridian circle and a scientific library.

Under the leadership of University President Henry Tappan and its first director, Franz Brünnow, the observatory became a prominent center for astronomical study in the United States. Brünnow introduced systematic German training methods, which influenced a generation of American astronomers, including Asaph Hall and James Craig Watson. Watson, who later succeeded Brünnow, made substantial contributions to the field, including the discovery of 22 asteroids, reinforcing the observatory’s academic importance.

Following a period of decline and near-demolition in the mid-20th century, the observatory received historic designation in 1958 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Restoration efforts in the late 1990s preserved the structure, and in 2022, it reopened with a new, accessibility-focused addition. Today, the facility operates in partnership with the Bentley Historical Library and hosts educational programs, public lectures, and astronomy events.

Visitors may explore the refurbished interior and observe the original Fitz telescope during open hours, or attend evening programs focused on celestial phenomena and historical context.