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.
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 Michigan
Details:
- When: 3 p.m. on November 18, 2026
- Where: 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!
- Parking & Transportation: Parking is available in surrounding U-M campus structures and near University Hospital (E. Ann St. & Observatory St.)
