Crow Observatory is a historic observatory

Observatory

An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...

 housed in Crow Hall on the Danforth Campus of Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...

. The historic telescope is still in use, and the observatory is open to the public.

Telescope and transit

The University purchased the observatory's refractor telescope in 1863. The telescope is named the Yeatman refractor, after philanthropist James Yeatman who donated US$1,500 for its construction. The Yeatman Refractor has an aperture of 6 inches, with lenses made by Henry Fitz & Co. The transit was made in 1882, and the clock was made in 1885.

History

The observatory was originally located on 18th Street in St. Louis City; it was moved with the rest of the University to the Danforth Campus

Danforth Campus

The Danforth Campus is the main campus at Washington University in St. Louis. Formerly known as the Hilltop Campus, it was officially dedicated as the Danforth Campus on September 17, 2006, in honor of William H. Danforth, the 13th Chancellor of the University, the Danforth family and the Danforth...

 upon the conclusion of the 1904 World's Fair. The current observatory dome was built in 1954, when the Yeatman refractor telescope was relocated from where Louderman Hall currently stands.