Old Naval Observatory
United States historic place in Washington, District of Columbia. Built 1843. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Old Naval Observatory is a historic site at 23rd and E Street in Northwest, Washington, D.C. It is where the United States Naval Observatory was located from 1844 to 1893, when it moved to its present grounds. The original observatory building, built 1839–40, still stands, and is a designated National Historic Landmark as of 1965. The Washington meridian of 1850 passes through the Observatory.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 23rd and E Sts., NW, Washington, DC |
| County | District of Columbia |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Military, Science |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 66000864 |
| Built | 1843 · more from the 1840s |
| Type of place | astronomical observatory |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 23rd and E Sts., NW, Washington, DC |
| Coordinates | 38.8950° N, 77.0515° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Washington | 675 listed places in Washington → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | Vietnam Veterans Memorial · under a mile · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc) 5 miles · Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas 5 miles · Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion 10 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 3 records ↗
Map
Nearby in District of Columbia
Local history books for Washington
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Guidebooks to historic places in Washington, D.C.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Old Naval Observatory listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Old Naval Observatory built?
1843.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Old Naval Observatory?
Yes. Old Naval Observatory is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Old Naval Observatory?
23rd and E Sts., NW, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia. The nearest national park unit is Vietnam Veterans Memorial, under a mile away.
Source: Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Old Naval Observatory?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Old Naval Observatory?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Old Naval Observatory?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc), 5 miles away. Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas is 5 miles away, and Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion is 10 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Old Naval Observatory?
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 66000864. 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. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.