[Open to Faculty and Staff]Step back in time and look out into the cosmos! Built in 1854, the historic Detroit Observatory is the University of Michigan’s oldest scientific facility and a newly reimagined space where history, astronomy, and cutting-edge digital exhibits meet.Join Observatory experts for a guided journey through Michigan’s history, written in the stars. Whether you are a space enthusiast, history technology buff, or curious visitor, this tour offers a rare look at the instruments and ideas that shaped modern astronomy in America.
Highlights! Historic Telescopes: View the original 1857 Fitz Refractor telescope and the Meridian Circle telescope in their authentic historic domes. Interactive & Digital Exhibits: Discover the stories of 19th-century astronomers, midwestern science, and campus life through modern multimedia installations in the new classroom and exhibition spaces. Campus & Astronomy History: Learn how the Observatory played a key role in the early development of the University of Michigan and scientific research.✨ New Exhibit: "Fill the Ranks": The Civil War and the University of MichiganDetails:Location: Judy and Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory 1398 E. Ann Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (Entrance on Observatory Street)Please meet in the lobby of the Observatory, off Observatory Street. Admission: Free!Time Slot: November 18, 2026 at 3PMParking & Transportation: Parking is available in surrounding U-M campus structures and near University Hospital (E. Ann St. & Observatory St.)