A tour group stands in the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium lobby

Description:	A tour group stands beneath the chandelier in the Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium lobby. They are standing on a circular, terrazzo, mosaic representation of the signs of the zodiac, designed by Garo Z. Antreasian. Behind the group and above the benches are three of the buildings 20 lighted cases designed to house enlarged photographs of astronomical objects. Construction of the Indiana limestone Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium 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. 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).
Source:	http://palni.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/BldgsGrnds/id/2813
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, 39.841474, -86.171414 39.841474 -86.171414
Subjects:	Lobbies (Rooms) Benches Handrails Chandeliers Lighting Mosaics Children Ashtrays Observatories Planetariums Butler University--Buildings College buildings Butler University--History Indianapolis (Ind.)--History People James Irving Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium Holcomb Observatory Fairview campus

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