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Yerkes Observatory

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Yerkes Observatory is called the “birthplace of modern astrophysics.” This architectural masterpiece houses echoes of celestial giants. Founded in 1892 by astronomer George Ellery Hale and businessman Charles T. Yerkes (pronounced YER-KEYS), it took a mere two years to construct this landmark institution. From 1897 to 2018, the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics managed the observatory. In 2020, the non-profit Yerkes Future Foundation began extensive restoration which culminated in a grand reopening to the public for tours and events in 2022.

About those celestial giants. If you build it, they will come. The world’s largest refracting-type telescope with a 40-in diameter doublet lens debuted in 1897. This attracted the attention of one Albert Einstein in 1921. Other luminaries studied or researched here: Sherburne W. Burnham who cataloged over 13,000 star systems; Edward Barnard who discovered the dark clouds of the Milky Way; Frank Ross who introduced the wide-angle lens to astronomy; Edwin Hubble who first photographed evidence of the expanding universe; Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first Chief of Astronomy; and Carl Sagan, a modern hero of astronomy for many of us.

Once Lisa discovered this shining diamond in the dark, we felt the magnetic pull to the main dome and its majestic footprint.

Scroll down to see more photos and read more about Yerkes Observatory.

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Yerkes Observatory was managed by the University of Chicago from 1897 to 2018; today, it operates under the non-profit Yerkes Future Foundation.
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Geneva Lake sits just a short hike downhill.
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Henry Ives Cobb designed the marvelous architecture in Beaux Arts style; and, Frederick Law Olmsted—the same group that designed New York Central Park—oversaw the landscape.
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Hagenah Rotunda presents a spellbinding grand reception.
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The dedicated restoration of the dome is evident in every meticulous detail.
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The library on the main floor is a great place to explore deep knowledge.
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Yerkes Observatory must have been a star on the map for it to welcome a certain distinguished guest in Albert Einstein.
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We gaze at these early images from the main telescope that capture our focus.

“The telescope and other technology that still works today, over 100 years later, blows my mind!”

Lisa and I set forth on a quick trip to Williams Bay, a stone’s throw from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Neither of us had ever heard of Yerkes Observatory, nor had we ever visited an observatory. All we knew of practical astronomy originated from shows or the occasional visit to a planetarium. We were uninitiated, but that was about to go off with a bang.

As we drove up the long and winding road, the grounds seemed stately and from another time. Even though bright sunshine was burning off the cloud deck, we imagined how dark it must be at night and the multitude of stars that would appear. We were far from the light pollution aura of greater Chicago, and nowhere near metropolitan Milwaukee. This was an ideal location for stargazing.

A good group of people gathered at the front door, and we were let in to receive a background briefing in a lecture room. Everything was so well restored and shined with the craftsmanship of its original condition and intent. I thought that I could live here for a while, study, be self-sufficient, and hyperfocused on astronomy. That was it exactly.

“Yerkes Observatory is an awesome discovery!”

Our tour guide, Jana, treated us to early image captures from the telescope in the main dome. The technological achievement and accuracy impressed even today. She explained that it took two nights of exposure to compose the fourth image (last photo above). The meticulous dedication, from the unique architectural touches to the astronomical observations, was astounding.

Next we were privileged to walk into the main dome and observe the historic telescope up close. Jana demonstrated how the roof rotated. Everything was designed from simple ideas and materials, and worked perfectly today. From the main dome we walked to see the underground support room, and the student library where Carl Sagan left his mark in one of his checkouts, a notable discovery by the observatory.

After the tour we dispersed, collected some souvenirs from the gift shop, learned about upcoming events, and explored the grounds for a self-guided walk. We felt like the experience was full tilt, but we were searching to know more of astronomy and Yerkes Observatory.

“If I had to do it all over again, I wish I could go to school here!”

Lisa and I summarized the day. Lisa: “Yerkes Observatory is an awesome discovery! The people and their contributions to science here over the years are unbelievable. The building and landscape are beautiful. The telescope and other technology that still works today, over 100 years later, blows my mind. I feel fortunate to experience everything knowing that it was almost completely lost. I think everyone should go!” And me: “The tour is amazing! I want to learn more about Yerkes Observatory and astronomy. I am impressed that we saw how the main dome rotates. I want to do the behind the scenes tour and also see an astronomy event. Maybe an observatory, compared to a planetarium, is more about the science than the show. If I had to do it all over again, I wish I could go to school here!”

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The observatory’s main dome houses the star of the tour—dedicated in 1897 as the world’s largest refracting-type telescope with a 40-inch diameter doublet lens.
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Over the years, stars shined through the telescope and in front of its lens: Sherburne W. Burnham, Edward Barnard, Frank Ross, Edwin Hubble, Nancy Grace Roman, and Carl Sagan.
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The console looks a little steampunk, but works perfectly even today.
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The dome’s rotation is manipulated by simple processes that stand the test of time.
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Beneath the ground floor of the main dome, we are treated to the foundation, its engine, and some historical tidbits.
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The tour takes us to the more scholarly side of the building, where students research in this tucked away library, perused by brilliant minds.
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Books about the giants of science await to be checked out, including one about Albert Einstein who toured Yerkes Observatory in 1921.
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Carl Sagan checked out this one, on October 21, 1956.
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This moon model became a legend in its own right as it was thought to be lost for years; however, the recent extensive restoration unearthed this working one-of-a-kind.

Growing up, I was fascinated by dinosaurs, the deep oceans, and the darkest reaches of space. I suppose it’s natural to be stimulated by otherworldly environments. The imagination runs wild, stoking our creativity. Maybe our primal fires need a little turnover here and there, so we can feel like children again, energized to connect the dots between the past, present, and future—or map the stars in the night sky. Individually and collectively, we need to keep this fire burning.

To learn more and plan your visit to Yerkes Observatory, click Yerkes Observatory

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46 thoughts on “Yerkes Observatory”

  1. Yerkes is amazing in so many ways: the history, the architecture, the science, the scientists and the restoration. Please visit if you can. You won’t be disappointed!

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  3. Fantastic to see Yerkes is being so well cared for after the scare a couple decades ago. A must see for those that are within a few hours drive.

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  5. I have been to Yerkes several times. We lived in Harvard, which is only a short drive and Yerkes was on the way to Lake Geneva. I thought they closed it! Glad to see you can still go through and see everything. It is an awesome experience.

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    1. Wow! 🤩 I had no idea that you were so familiar with Yerkes Observatory! Did you get to tour everything? It’s well into the restoration; I suggest you make another trip! 🔭

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  6. From the Midwest and I’ve never heard of this gem! I know, not a proud moment, but total tranparency here. But now that I know, I will have this on my to-do list. I would be enamored!! Thanks for the wonderful post!

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  7. and…Yet another share by you, for me to put on my “someday…” list! AWESOME!

    Reminded me of a story (which I will flub in paraphrased from memory form) from Einstein’s life – about his theory of relativity/speed of light? and how many years it took for those who could capture the evidence to prove his theory right! (based off of need to capture photographic evidence of light bending during a full solar eclipse)

    In the ‘just try and remember the highlights” memory files of my mind – seems like it took years and/or two decades or more, for him – while he waited – in the days of yore when equipment was big and heavy – travel to locations where ‘full eclipse’ could be reliably photographed, was fraught with unreliable transportation, shipwrecks, easily broken equipment, sensitive to the vagaries of ‘in the wilderness’ conditions, global politics, tribal/civil wars and world wars –

    And often, I think of that – when I chafe against the little things in my life that case friction and fret…

    (I’m NOT a rocket scientist, astrophycist, cosmologist, philosopher or theoretical mathematician, but I am inspired by those who are – and think how much easier I have it than they did/do, in reaching for the stars, understanding and such, even while, often, suffering setbacks, ridicule and/or demise in the halls of academia of their pursed passion, course of study, networks, and those in charge who rest on laurels, instead of moving forth or admitting, “oops! I was wrong! I NOW have learned….such and such is so…”

    AND! your post reminded me, I need to check in on the world of quantum mechanics, string theory, M theory, etc., again – I just realized!

    I haven’t visited that world for awhile in the latest greatest in many fronts that never fail to completely intrigue me, even as I’m too ignorant to fully understand what those who know more than I are trying to learn, do, prove and convey.

    I also haven’t checked in on where Mr. 11 Dimensions for Space and Time Laws and Rles is at, or how he is doing…

    Long ago he was top dog, then walked through near bankruptcy, unemployed with 2 mortgages on his home, all due to whether others working on string theory (M theory? Theory of Everything?) needed his thesis of 11 dimensions of space & time to make the math of THEIR hypothesis work or not.

    Sigh – one lifetime is never enough to experience it all, eh?? I’ll never be a rocket scientist nor do I have the desire to – but, well, doesn’t keep me from thinking, “OMG! That is AWE-INSPIRING! Sorta puts my daily life into perspective, eh?”

    (I did right about Mr. 11 dimensions, I know I did! but, apparently, I hid it from myself – even with Admin of blog search capabilities! LOL – but here, is just one tiny post that was on my radar – around the same time – and I think to myself: “You idiot! You put that story in with a gardening news update, didn’t ya???” 😀

    Sorry for long comment, for any misunderstanding I may have written on the fly? refer to https://ballybin.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/the-elegant-universe/. 😀

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      1. Nah – A tour guide or docent I’ll never be, though, I always feel a glow of love inside when some says so – sigh – one life is not enough to learn that many things, on that many fronts, but still – we each play our part and well – an uncle of mine long ago, taught at university in Chicago, but do you think I knew about Yerkes? No! Professor of Theology thus, totally was not on my radar – until. your, post. But in my heart? His brothers who were engineers, carpenters and architects? Ah – how I wish I could plan a trip to visit, with them, along for the tour. Bittersweet, overall, but yeah – Yerkes is on my ‘yup, must visit before I die, if at all possible”. The rotating dome is a marvel of engineering and restoration, to my eyes – thanks for the awesome pics!

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  10. It is indeed impressive how the technology from several decades ago still work their wonders now. I have not been to an observatory and I’m glad you brought me along. Now I am on the lookout for one, it’s in my bucket list.

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  14. I had never heard of this observatory and would love to visit it. The building alone is exquisite and the history of its role and the many stars it attracted fascinating.

    I hope you can make it to an astronomy event.

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  16. A fascinating post! I remember visiting Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, as a child — it was right on the way to Madison and Wisconsin Dells — but we never went to the Yerkes Observatory. I don’t think it was even open to the public at that time.

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  17. Very interesting post! After reading it and checking the pictures, I feel like I was there 🙂 Thank you for taking us on this excursion!

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      1. Summer has been quite challenging. Haven’t had fun yet and we are already in the middle of it 😭.

        Blessings to you today and always.

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