Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium in the snow, as viewed from the southeast

Description:	Snow covers the ground and coats the trees surrounding the James Irving Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, and most of the snow has been cleared from the sidewalk. 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).
Source:	http://palni.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/BldgsGrnds/id/2827
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, 39.841245, -86.171082 39.841245 -86.171082
Subjects:	Snow Trees Sidewalks Observatories Planetariums Observatory domes Butler University--Buildings College buildings Butler University--History Indianapolis (Ind.)--History James Irving Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium Holcomb Observatory Fairview campus

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