The MacAdam Student Observatory is UK's third student observatory.  Each suffered the same fate - they were originally built far from the main campus in open fields but were eventually overrun by campus expansion.  The MacAdam Student Observatory site is stable since no further expansion in this part of central campus is contemplated.

The first observatory was built in 1902 near the site now occupied by McVey Hall.  The caption on the back of this photo says that Miller Hall and While Hall are visible to the right.  This observatory was torn down in 1929 due to construction of McVey Hall and the "Civil Engineering and Physics Building" to either side of it, thus blocking its view of the sky.

University Archives and Records Program, University of Kentucky Libraries

What happened to the first observatory  McVey Hall under construction.

The second observatory was opened in 1931.  It was built with $25,000 funding provided by the state legislature soon after the start of the Great Depression.  It housed two telescopes, a large 9" refractor in the large dome visible at top, and a smaller transit instrument housed behind the building (not visible).

University Archives and Records Program, University of Kentucky Libraries

This observatory was used by UK Mathematics Professor Harold H. Downing for weekly public nights, UK classes, and for visits by local schools.  It had two class rooms, an office and library, and a furnished basement.  It was removed in 1961 to make way for our two tall student dorms.  

UK's William Lipscomb, who won the 1976 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, says that his experiences at UK's second observatory during the 1930s sparked his first interest in physics and chemistry.  A PDF of his letter is here.

Observatory Images in the Library Archives

Click on the small image to see the full-size picture.  The comments written on back of the pictures are also given.  All are from the University Archives and Records Program, University of Kentucky Libraries, except where otherwise noted.

  old observatory. Note: Miller Hall & While Hall to rt read,engr bldgs to left

observatory - exterior view (shortly after completion of construction)

from Ky Alumnus 4:4, 1931, p4 new observatory built 1931? on arg ext farm

  UK public relations, "Jan 13, 1958"

  UK public relations, "telescope in observatory"

W. Brooks Hamilton - Photography, #4

  Jan 8, 1956, this photo by John Mitchell, 433 Cochran Road, Lexington, KY, phone2-7628  (gjf:  This shows the observatory at night. ).

  (gjf: back has no comments)

  April 1961, 3 col (33p) x 21p, Lexington Herald-Leader Staff Photo   (gjf:  The dome and telescope were given to Eastern Kentucky University.  This appears to show the back of the observatory, and the area that housed the transit telescope.)

Special thanks to Frank B. Stanger, Jr, of the University Archives and Records Program, for kindly providing access to the Library's store of materials on UK's observatories.

Copyright 2001-2006 Gary J. Ferland
For problems or questions regarding this web contact Gary Ferland.
Last updated: July 13, 2007.