Detroit Observatory Chronology: 1961-present
1852-1855 | 1856-1873 | 1874-1894 | 1896-1916 | 1917-1960s | 1961-present
| 1961 | Orren C. Mohler becomes Director |
| 1963 | Astronomy moves into the new Dennison Building
on central campus; Observatory used as Astronomy Library |
| 1966 | Plan developed to move the Observatory 20 feet
to the south to expand the intersection in front of Old Main Hospital
(never acted on) |
| 1970 | W. Albert Hiltner becomes Director Bookcases are removed from the west wing Asphalt roll roofing over fiberglass insulation is added to the Observatory |
| 1970s | University proposes to raze the buildings;
friends of the Observatory appeal to save the original building, with
success |
| 1973 | Observatory is listed in the National Register
of Historic Places |
| 1976 | 1908 addition is razed. Mountings from the 7
1/2-inch reflecting telescope given to the Lake Erie Astronomical Project;
mirror and driving clock placed in storage |
| 1979 | Chronograph by Fauth & Co. sent out for
restoration |
| 1980s | Building used as a warehouse for historical
scientific and medical apparatus, and as the headquarters for the
Collegiate Institute for Values and Science Second floor modified for use as office space |
| 1989 | Building receives repairs and painting in
preparation for the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society
held in Ann Arbor Meridian circle is cleaned and polished by Orren Mohler |
| 1991 | W. Albert Hiltner dies; memorial plaque and
garden installed on the grounds of the Detroit Observatory |
| 1994 | |
| March | Oversight of the Detroit Observatory
transferred to the Office of the Vice President for Research in response to
its proposal to restore the building Detroit Observatory Advisory Group appointed by Vice President for Research, Homer A. Neal; Whitesell appointed as Chair |
| 1994-95 | Scientific and medical apparatus stored in the
Observatory is relocated; building is stabilized and made usable for
fundraising activities |
| 1996 | Restoration planning process launched with
historic preservation architect Quinn Evans/Architects Regent Emeritus Alfred Connable was fêted at the Observatory for designating a bequest Construction of the Magellan Project observatory in Chile |
| 1997-98 |
Restoration construction process |
| 1999 | Museum created Installation of historical plaque by the University's History and Traditions Committee |
| May 21 | Building rededication |
| October |
Museum opens to the public; Lecture Series begins |
| 2000 | |
| Jan. 10 |
Freeman D. Miller dies |
| planned for 2004 |
Celebration of the Detroit Observatory's 150th anniversary |
The chronology is excerpted with the author's persmission from A Creation of His Own: Tappan's Detroit Observatory, by Patricia S. Whitesell, ©1998.