James Irving Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium in the snow

Description:	Snow covers the ground and dusts the trees and bushes on the south side of the James Irving Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, while cars are parked near the building. Construction of the Indiana limestone building took approximately 18 months and fill dirt from the Ross Hall construction site (building opened September 12, 1954) was moved to this location, a high plot of land at the entrance to Holcomb Gardens. Dedicated on Friday, November 5, 1954, the structure was designed and planned by Arthur F. Lindberg, Butler University Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds; J. I. Holcomb, Vice President of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee; Dr. Harry E. Crull, Professor of Mathematics and Head of the Department of Mathematics; Robert Frost Daggett, consulting architect; and the firm of Ammerman, Davis and Stout, consulting engineers. On the dedication day, morning classes were shortened, and afternoon classes were cancelled so people could attend the dedication convocation, which was a part of the Homecoming festivities and the start of the celebrations for the Universitys centennial year. Reports vary, but the estimated cost of the building and the telescope was between $325,000 and $350,000, and J. I. and Musetta Holcomb provided the funding for the project. The building includes a central tower topped with a dome housing a 38-inch Cassegrainian reflector telescope manufactured by J. W. Fecker, Inc., a planetarium in the west wing, and a lecture room in the east wing. Dr. Crull became the first Director of the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium and according to the November 1957 edition of Butler Reports, an estimated 90,000 people visited the structure during its first three years (p. 7).
Origin:	1967-08
Source:	http://palni.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/BldgsGrnds/id/2807
Collection:	Butler University Buildings and Grounds Collection
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Copyright:	In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Geography:	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 39.840088, -86.171286 39.840088 -86.171286
Subjects:	Snow Observatories Planetariums Observatory domes Trees Shrubs Automobiles Butler University--Buildings College buildings Butler University--History Indianapolis (Ind.)--History Bushes James Irving Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium Holcomb Observatory North Mall Fairview campus

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