Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Inc. Genealogical & Historical Societies of Washtenaw County University of Michigan Detroit Observatory
Address Phone Fax		1398 E. Ann St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2051 (734) 763-2230 (734) 936-4111
Email		DetroitObsevatory@umich.edu
Home Page Virtual Tour		http://www.detroitobservatory.umich.edu/ http://www.detroitobservatory.umich.edu/tour/welcome/welcomegreet.html
Hours		Usually 11-2 or 2-5 on selected weekdays See http://www.detroitobservatory.umich.edu/OpenHouse.html for the current schedule.
Directions/Parking		From US-23 to the East, take Exit 41, turning west onto Plymouth Road. Continue past Green Road, turning left onto Huron Parkway. Follow this past Hubbard, turning right on Glazier Way; follow Glazier as it joins with Fuller and skirts the University of Michigan Medical Center complex. Turn left on Ann Street (one-way) and follow it to the end at Observatory. See observatory map or map of Central Campus.
Parking		Parking is available along side streets near the corner of Observatory and East Ann. There are 2-hour meters along Zina Pitcher Place one block west of the observatory.
Admission		$5 donation suggested
Description		The Detroit Observatory was built in Ann Arbor in 1854 during the tenure of Dr. Henry Philip Tappan, first president of the University of Michigan. The museum contains 19th and 20th century scientific equipment used for astronomy, meteorology, seismology, and timekeeping.
Publication		A Creation of His Own: Tappan's Detroit Observatory, Patricia S. Whitesell, Ann Arbor: Bentley Historical Library, 1998.
Index		Among the names you will find on the observatory's website are references to many local residents. This is only a partial listing of names of the famous and not so famous found on their History and Virtual Tour pages. Abbe, Cleveland, astronomer Alvan Clark & Sons, telescope manufacturers Avery, Samuel P., friend of Jasper Cropsey Beckwith, Marguerite, wife of Rudolph Brünnow Brünnow, Eric Brünnow, Dr. Franz F. E., 1st observatory director Brünnow, Rudolph, son of Franz and Rebecca Bull, Dr. Richard Harrison, architect and civil engineer Campbell, William W., astronomer Cropsey, Jasper Francis, painter Curtis, Heber C., 7th observatory directory Curtiss, Ralph H., 6th observatory director Encke, J. F., director, Royal Observatory, Berlin Estes, Dr. Ludovic, scientist Fauth & Co., telescope manufacturer, Washington, D.C. Fitz Jr., Henry, telescope manufacturer, New York Frieze, Prof. Goldberg, Leo, 9th observatory director Hall Jr., Asaph, 4th observatory director Hall Sr., Asaph, trained by Franz Brünnow Hardy, Chas. A., carpenter Harrington, Dr. Mark Walrod, 3rd observatory director, first head of U.S. Weather Bureau Hatch, Edw. W., carpenter Hough, G. W., inventor of automatic barometer Hussey, William J., 5th observatory director Leggett, R., engraver Losh, Dr. Hazel, astronomer Maxwell, Alan D., acting director Miller, Freeman D., acting director Phelps, Jonas, mount maker Pistor & Martins, telescope firm, Berlin Rufus, W. Carl, 8th observatory director Russel Wheel and Foundry Co., dome addition Saunders, George, stone pier Schaeberle, John Martin, astronomer Tappan, Dr. Henry Philip, UM president Tappan, Julia Tappan, Rebecca Lloyd, daughter of Henry, married Dr. Franz Brünnow Tiede, M., clock manufacturer, Berlin Tooker, T.D., photographer Waite, Annette Helena, of Dexter, wife of James Watson Walker, Henry N., Detroit attorney, funded telescope purchase Watson, Dr. James Craig, 2nd observatory director White, Andrew D., purchased Cropsey paintings
		Copyright © 2007, Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to print a single copy for personal use is granted. http://www.hvcn.org/info/gswc/society/musypsifire.htm Designed by S. Brevoort. Revised 15 October 2007. Send comments or changes to Sharon at wwwgswc@aol.com. Images © GSWC, Corel Corporation; photographs © S. Brevoort.