25. Halsted Observatory
As early as 1848, professor of astronomy Stephen Alexander urged the College
to build an observatory, but construction of a structure based on his
plans did not begin until 1866. The Halsted Observatory was completed
three years later, though it did not acquire its most important piece
of equipment—a 23” refracting telescope—until 1882,
after Alexander’s retirement. Named for Princeton benefactor
and Civil War general Nathaniel Norris Halsted, the observatory was used
until 1932, when it was razed to make way for Joline Hall. The stones
from which Halsted was constructed were then used to build the new FitzRandolph
Observatory, though one large stone from the outer wall of Halsted still
marks the original site in what is now the Mathey College courtyard.
The 1882 telescope was also transferred to the new observatory where it
needed only minor modifications for modernization, as it was impossible
to create better quality lenses. This equipment was not replaced
with a 36” reflecting telescope until 1966.
- To learn more about campus observatories,
see Café Vivian picture #37.
- To learn more about Princeton’s
vanished buildings, see Café Vivian picture #6,
8, 37, 40,
46, 48, 58,
62, 78, and 127.
- To learn more about campus grounds
and buildings, see icon #1, 5,
and 8, quotation #5, 7,
9, 28, and 39,
and Café Vivian picture #4, 6,
7, 8, 11,
16, 20, 30,
33, 37, 40,
46, 48, 54,
58, 61, 62,
67, 68, 71,
78, 85, 87,
95, 100, 101,
102, 104, 105,
108, 109, 111,
118, 124, 127,
and 133.
- To learn more about notable
Princeton professors, see icon #7, quotation
#6, 13, 15,
20, 21, 26,
27, 31, 32,
34, 39, and 40,
and Café Vivian picture #10, 14,
17, 22, 29,
43, 51, 57,
59, 60, 68,
75, 87, 94,
101, and 108.
- To learn more about the history of science at Princeton, see icon #2, 5, 6, and 7, quotation #9, 27, 34, and 39, and Café Vivian picture #14, 15, 22, 32, 35, 41, 43, 51, 64, 75, 78, 83, 87, 90, 114, and 131.