Cincinnati Observatory Building
Observatory in Cincinnati, Ohio. Added to the National Register in 1980, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Cincinnati Observatory, known locally as Mt. Lookout Observatory, is located in Cincinnati, Ohio on top of Mount 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, which currently owns the observatory. It 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.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | Observatory Pl., Cincinnati, OH |
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | Mar 3, 1980 |
| Listed for | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | See Also:Observatory Historic District |
| Reference number | 80003043 |
| Architect | Samuel Hannaford |
| Type of place | astronomical observatory |
| Style | Greek Revival architecture |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places contributing property |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Observatory Pl., Cincinnati, OH |
| Website | cincinnatiobservatory.org ↗ |
| Coordinates | 39.1429° N, 84.4226° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Cincinnati | 314 listed places in Cincinnati → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | William Howard Taft National Historic Site · 5 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Caesar Creek Lake 30 miles · Overlook Shelter (Brookville Lake) 37 miles · Tailwater Shelter 1 (Brookville Lake) 37 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Hamilton County
Local history books for Cincinnati
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Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Ohio
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Cincinnati Observatory Building listed on the National Register?
Mar 3, 1980. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Who designed Cincinnati Observatory Building?
Samuel Hannaford, working in the Greek Revival architecture style.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Cincinnati Observatory Building?
Yes. Cincinnati Observatory Building is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website.
Source: Official website
Where is Cincinnati Observatory Building?
Observatory Pl., Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. The nearest national park unit is William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 5 miles away.
Where is the nomination form for Cincinnati Observatory Building?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Cincinnati Observatory Building?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Caesar Creek Lake, 30 miles away. Overlook Shelter (Brookville Lake) is 37 miles away, and Tailwater Shelter 1 (Brookville Lake) is 37 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Cincinnati Observatory Building?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 80003043. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.