Darling's Observatory facts for kids

Darling's Observatory was a private observatory built by Mr. J. H. Darling in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was constructed between 1916 and 1917. The observatory was located on West 3rd Street in Duluth, about 325 feet above Lake Superior.

The building's plans were drawn by Richard E. Schmidt. Mr. Darling designed the steel dome himself after looking at domes from other observatories. The building was made of wood with a stucco finish on the outside.

In 1965, the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) received the observatory's main Telescope. It is still on display there today. Sadly, the observatory building was damaged many times and was finally taken down in 1972.

Discovering the Stars: The Telescopes of Darling's Observatory

The observatory had a special 9-inch refracting telescope. This type of telescope uses lenses to make distant objects look closer. It was made by William Gaertner & Company in Chicago, Illinois.

When Mr. Darling first ordered the telescope, the company had trouble getting glass for the lens. This was because of limited supplies during World War I. Luckily, John Brashear from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who made excellent optical instruments, had a 9-inch lens available. Mr. Darling was able to get it.

The telescope was finished and set up in April 1917. It cost about $3,500 at the time. Today, Darling's Telescope is located at the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Meet John H. Darling: Engineer and Stargazer

John H. Darling was born in Michigan on April 15, 1847. He went to a local school called the Darling School House. Later, he attended high school for a short time.

In 1873, he graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Michigan. That same year, he started working for the government. For nine years, he helped survey the U.S. Great Lakes. He mainly measured angles for large mapping projects.

After this work, he joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1882. He worked on river improvements in Minnesota as a draftsman.

Darling's Work on Lake Superior

From 1884 to 1913, Mr. Darling was a main assistant engineer for harbor improvements on Lake Superior. He was in charge of harbor work in Duluth-Superior. His office was in Duluth.

In 1886, the Duluth District was created. By 1888, it included the entire American shore of Lake Superior. Mr. Darling's job was to design and build important structures like breakwaters and piers. He also helped create plans for shipping channels and anchorage areas.

He also inspected bridge construction and located shipwrecks. He made maps of areas where compasses acted strangely. These maps helped ships avoid danger.

Retirement and a New Hobby

Mr. Darling retired from the Corps of Engineers on October 31, 1913. He had worked for the government for 40 years. He retired partly for his health and to have more time for travel and scientific study.

In his later years, Mr. Darling spent most of his time on astronomy. This was a subject he always loved and that became his main hobby. In 1916-1917, he built his own observatory. He wanted it for his personal use and to help people in Duluth learn about astronomy.

Mr. Darling was a member of several important groups. These included the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Astronomical Society. The University of Michigan gave him an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in 1915. He was also chosen for the Duluth Hall of Fame in 1930.

He married Miss Addie Ford in 1880. She passed away in Duluth in 1920. The Darlings did not have any children.