|
The Chabot Space Center in the redwood shrouded hills above Oakland is
the third version of a public educational institution founded in
1883. The original funding came from Anthony Chabot, a
successful Bay Area engineer. Unlike the large research
institutions, the principle mission of this observatory was always
public education, and the original building was smack in the center
of downtown Oakland. It was moved in the early years of the
twentieth century to Mountain Avenue which, at that time, was away
from city lights. Inevitably, this site, too, became
inadequate, and the new facilities are now further up the hill in an
attractive park surrounded by deep forest.
Although the
present buildings date only from 1995, the original instruments are
still in service. The dome in the central image of the panel
above houses
the original 8" refractor, while the telescope shown in the panel
below is a larger instrument, dating from 1920. It has a 20"
objective lens crafted by John Brashear and is supported by a mount
from Warner & Swasey. This is currently the largest refractor in the
U.S. open for year round public viewing .
|
