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Darling's Observatory

Darling'sObservatory.jpeg

Have I been living under a rock or something?

I was browsing the Duluth Wikpedia Article tonight when I came across a piece of Duluth history I'd never heard of before--Darling's Observatory. J.H. Darling (some rich dude in 1917) built an observatory that housed a 9 inch private telescope as a "means of awakening an interest in this noble science [astronomy] among the people of his city and of contributing to the popular knowledge of the subject." It seems the spot that it used to stand on is now Observation Park out by Emerson. I went out to the spot tonight to look for evidence, and it was scanty. I was just curious if anyone else could shed some light on this topic or maybe just a better picture? From the one above the observatory looks quite grand. I wonder why it's still not there? It looks like it was kind of a big deal for its time........

Comments

I believe Darling Observatory was moved up to UMD at some point, but I'm not sure if it's still there.


yep the telescope is up at UMD. The observatory was up on ....say it...OBSERVATION HILL. By emerson. There's a playground there and an odd alter carved in the rock with a rusted wrought iron fence around it..hmmm...this all sounds very Lovecraftian to me


So is this why the Observation Hill neighborhood is called Observation Hill? Or is it simply because of the great views from that area? If it's the former than the maxim about learning something new every day will definitely apply in this instance.


So is this why the Observation Hill neighborhood is called Observation Hill? Or is it simply because of the great views from that area? If it's the former than the maxim about learning something new every day will definitely apply in this instance.


I used to live by there and was surprised to find "observatory" on my map! I went to investigate and found some interesting info. The only thing that remains on the site is the metal fence.
I also hid a Geocache out there - here's the site with some more info on the observatory and some photos.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=9e1d3af5-9e47-4fc6-a2ae-e820f68a11dc


WDIO-TV (where I once worked) is located on Observation Road, an extension of 11th Avenue West north of Skyline Parkway. The name is probably a holdover from when the Observatory was at its original site on 3rd Street.


yes... mr.rock-liver-underer... it is all true.

specifically, the historic telescope is housed on the ground level within the Marshall W. Alworth building... it is on the northwest-ish edge of the campus, off of college street. if you look here, you will see the planetarium (the circle like building) listed as MWAP.

cool.
...rtn


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