About this property
The Calais Observatory is a pair of granite fixtures in Meridian Park in Calais, Maine. The two stones were used for mounting scientific equipment used in a variety of astronomical observations, principally for the accurate calculation by the United States Coast Survey of Calais's longitude with respect to meridians in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Greenwich, England. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012, and is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Heritage Trail program. At the time of its longitude determination in 1866 with respect to the Greenwich Meridian, it was arguably one of the most precisely located places in the United States.
Location
Federal Designation
The National Register of Historic Places, administered by the National Park Service, is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural significance. Listing on the National Register recognizes a property's importance to American history but does not place restrictions on private owners; it does, however, make properties eligible for federal historic preservation tax incentives and enables consideration in federal planning decisions. This property is recorded in the National Register under reference number 12001069. It was listed on December 19, 2012.
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Questions about this property
When was Calais Observatory listed on the National Register?
Calais Observatory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 2012.
What type of historic resource is Calais Observatory?
Calais Observatory is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Calais Observatory?
The period of significance for Calais Observatory is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1866.
Can I research the history near Calais Observatory?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Calais Observatory will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Calais Observatory will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.