National Historic Landmark

Stellafane Observatory

North Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont
Listed
November 7, 1977
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
77000107

About this property

The Stellafane Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Springfield, Vermont, founded in 1920 by Russell W. Porter. The Pink Clubhouse was built in 1923 at the site by the Springfield Telescope Makers. The name Stellafane, suggested by Porter at the club's December 1923 meeting, is derived from the Latin words stella and fanum meaning "Shrine to the Stars", and originally referred specifically to the clubhouse, but has since come to refer to all of the club's land and buildings on the summit of Breezy Hill, west of downtown Springfield. The Stellafane Convention, a gathering of amateur telescope makers and amateur astronomers is the longest running astronomical convention in the United States, having been held nearly every year at the location since 1926. The clubhouse and observatory became listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and became a National Historic Landmark in 1989, in recognition of the club's pioneering role in the popularization of astronomy and the amateur construction of telescopes.

Location

North Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont
43.27805, -72.51918

Categories

EDUCATIONSCIENCEINVENTION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Springfield Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
2.2 mi
Park Street School
Industrial
2.2 mi
Southview Housing Historic District
Civil War
2.3 mi
Springfield Downtown Historic District
Listed
2.4 mi
Hartness House
Industrial
2.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Fort Number Four (Charlestown NH) — King George's War
1746Colonial
6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Stellafane Observatory listed on the National Register?

Stellafane Observatory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Stellafane Observatory?

Stellafane Observatory is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Stellafane Observatory a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Stellafane Observatory has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Stellafane Observatory?

The period of significance for Stellafane Observatory is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Stellafane Observatory?

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