Cincinnati Observatory

Absolutely fantastic experience with tons of history and knowledge staff. The artifacts were really interesting and my kids enjoyed learning about the telescopes. The staff allowed my children to adjust the roof and some of the telescope settings which was really cool to watch. I was pleasantly surprised at the experience as a whole!

Loved the tour and enjoyed looking through the ancient telescopes. Highly recommend the late night tour sessions - better visibility, temps are cooler (it gets very sticky inside the domes!!) Fascinating info from the astronomers - and a thrill to experience the oldest functioning observatory in the country!!

Beautiful setting lovely to walk around this area I look at these magnificent historic buildings.

Really cool experience to learn some history and look at the stars. The tour was interesting and they are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about astronomy!

I went here for an event and it's a cool place! They always have events and the ticketed ones sell out fast, so we felt lucky we could visit for one, let alone the night was clear enough to see the moon in the older telescope. They do have a lot of events, including free ones, that are also popular. It's perfect for a date night or for a special event. Worth the visit!

We did the date night at the observatory it was a great experience. The tour guide was amazing. He was very delightful. Because of the bad weather we couldn't look in the telescope which we were very sad about that. We just wished they had something to where those who attended were able to come back a different day to look through the telescope. The buildings were amazing to see all the history that went into it. Amazing. We will definitely attend again.

Getting to see the Aurora Borealis lights over the Observatory, the international space station fly over, and many other fun events. There's always something to see and do!

My grandkids and I enjoyed some moon gazing this week. The observatory held a special event where local star gazers set up their personal telescopes to gaze at the stars sun moon. The eve was well attended. I’m guessing over 200 visitors? They provided tours of the 2 scopes and there were special Star Wars guests in attendance. It was a nice event to get the grand kids introduced to star gazing.

Per Carl Sagan, "The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff." Astronomy has always fascinated me. Although, I did not go into the hard sciences, sticking to the soft sciences, I still remember how as a child I was fascinated by the stars, the planets, and our solar system. I remember when my mom went back to school to finish her associates degree, she took an astronomy class to fulfill one of her science requirements. I was in 6th grade and she would take me to her class. I would just sit there and listen, captivated by the information being presented. I remember, thanks to the class, using a telescope for the first time. Seeing the majesty of the cosmos had me enraptured! On the family trip to Cincinnati, I had to stop by the Cincinnati Observatory. I want to really look at the magnificence of the heavens through some very powerful telescopes. Sadly, it was not to be. Oh, I did go to the observatory, but due to the weather conditions and how cloudy it was, we could not use the telescopes. Still the event I went to allowed me to tour the facility, see the telescopes they had and also sit in a class taught by the local astronomical society. The class went deep into the size of the planetary bodies both in our solar system and beyond. We had fun, even though, I really wish we could have seen through the telescopes. Ahh well, maybe I will have a chance to come back another night and peer into the universe!

What a gem here in the middle. They are the oldest observatory in the US and the stories the fantastic volunteers told from the building of the first observatory to a visit from Neil Armstrong were entertaining and enlightening. We'll head back for a nighttime viewing event. Bonus: masks required inside Signup for the Sunday tours or night views on their website!

Great for date night when the sky is clear. Great for learning more about the planets. Just a great time . You will see the world's telescope

I've been living in Cincinnati my entire life (26 years) and today was the first day I stumbled upon our city's observatory. Inside, John Barnes gave me incredible historical background, telling me about Ormsby M. Mitchel and his efforts to have the observatory built. I never would have known that the Cincinnati Observatory is the oldest conservatory in the United States, and possesses one of the oldest working telescopes in the world. I hope to return soon so that I get to see the 1845 Merz and Mahler telescope, and possibly experience one of the evening programs.

One of the first places I visited when staying in Hyde Park (during my initial move to the area), and it was such a wonderful discovery. I had absolutely no idea how instrumental Cincinnati was in the field of astromony and global time keeping. The Observatory is tucked away in a beautiful part of Hyde Park, and the drive up to it is flanked by historic homes. The neighborhood itself is reason enough to visit, and walking/wandering the grounds is delightful. Still, to get the most out of your visit, I would recommend a tour and going at night. You will learn so much about the history of the city, astromony, and, yes, time keeping! It's fascintating. Great docents, too. I highly recommend for visitors to the area or anyone new to Cincinnati and who has a thirst for knowledge.

Cincinnati hidden gem: this is that. When I was a child, my parents were part of a "child study group" of neighbors. I'm sure it would have been "interesting" to hear what they said about us! They arranged group family activities like picnic breakfast with eggs cooked on charcoal grills in Ault Park and visiting the observatory to look through the telescopes. We cut through the observatory grounds walking from school, because we knew all the kid-secret trails. When the observatory moved here from Mt Adams, the neighborhood was forest, and prime arrowhead hunting land until it filled with houses. When I was back in town, I was able to visit a day tour. They have night tours to use the telescope too. There is a nominal charge. You can book and pay online. Our tour leader was very knowledgable and gracious accommodating a family joining in mid-tour with an autistic student working on a report for school. That adaptability in the moment to people types was beautiful. The tour covers the technical history, and the history of the people who made the observatory. The buildings and contents are fascinating, including the precision (at the time) mechanical clocks in the basement needed for some astronomical observations. The big telescope is a marvel of engineering with its clockworks and you can look through that telescope at night today. The observatory had a crisis around 1980. It was considered to be torn down, and the land given over to McMansions. But the neighbors banded together to prevent that and convey it to the University of Cincinnati. As a result, the buildings were updated to last another century. There is a tastefully cluttered 3 person active office there, which has to be the absolute coolest place in Cincinnati to work! You will learn that the observatory was originally funded by Cincinnati citizens. They brought the first observatory to the Americas to engage Cincinnati with science! The neighborhood was even named Mt Lookout in honor of the observatory when it moved from Mt Adams in 1873 because of light pollution in Cincinnati's expanding downtown core. Over the years they built buildings, moved telescopes and obsoleted some. They still have the original telescope, the 1845 Merz und Mahler, and the big telescope, the 1904 Clark. When installed, the Merz und Mahler was the third most powerful telescope in the world! There are several spaces which would be unique for your events. The grounds would make a nice quiet picnic spot too. Parking is limited in this residential neighborhood. It's fine for a visit, but check with the observatory about parking if you are planning an event. This is a special historical space for out of town visitors, for parents of children interested in science, for a date night and for Cincinnatians looking for inspiration to create their own next big thing that will still be honored over 175 years hence!

This place is truly one of Cincinnati's treasures! Just the history alone is exciting and to realize that this observatory was the best for its time is impressive. A dedicated and knowledgeable group of volunteers offers star gazing events and I promise you'll never look at the sky the same after!

This place is so cool. Great historic building surrounded by beautiful historic houses. It's amazing to be able to see such old technology that close. We got to turn the observation tower and the telescope. Our guide John was also ver knowledgeable and friendly. He got straight to the point with the information and didn't stray. Loved this, will be going to more observatories in the future because of this place.

Took the family to their Cosmic Friday even that they do periodically. This spot is a hidden gem. Anyone remotely interested in astronomy should check it out... And its all pretty kid friendly as well! We got a quick college level lecture on what's in the sky that you'll be viewing. Ours was all about Jupiter. They also gave a quick history tidbit about the observatory. You'll end up looking through the first telescope commissioned for use in the usa. It's a piece of history which makes the experience that much cooler. We checked out and up close shot of the moon... Saw Jupiter and its 4 major moons.. An iridium flare... And got a glimpse of Saturn and Titan. Recommend highly... For families... Date nights.. Or just a cool random option for anyone while in Cincy!

I can't believe I've lived in Cincinnati for almost 13 years and I had never been to the observatory. What a hidden gem! So glad I finally took the time to visit. We went on a Thursday for one of their shows. It starts with a brief history/background of the observatory, which was both entertaining and interesting. Next, we toured the older building and telescope and learned how they are operated. Finally, we used the newer telescope to view Venus, Jupiter and the moon. Beautiful! The tour guides were very knowledgeable and welcomed questions. Total there were about 30 guests while we were there, and they were happy to answer everyone's questions. Overall, a wonderful experience. And at only $5, I would highly recommend checking this place out.

My daughter wanted to go here so here we are. This is apparently the oldest observatory in this hemisphere so that's cool. They gave us a 90 minute lecture about the planet Saturn which was really cool. Then we got a tour of the grounds which had lots of cool things to see many of which you can see in my pictures. The tour guide was very thorough and knowledgeable about the history of the place. Finally after the sun went down we were able to look through the telescope and saw many cool things including the planet Jupiter. There is a lot of cool things to see and learn here and every trip here will be different depending on the programs being done at the time and what is going on in the solar system. I will definitely be back and I would encourage anybody to check this place out.

Ah, the observatory: geekery's finest combination of science and architectural history. Founded in 1842, the Cincinnati Observatory was one of the nation's first observatories and also houses the oldest telescope in the world. Seeing this telescope in action is amazing. Powered by industrial gears and belts, this gigantic device pivots around the room to catch a glimpse of the sky through the dome roof. Depending on the angle, visitors ascend a large wooden staircase to reach the height of the viewfinder. During my visit, I viewed Jupiter, Uranus, a galaxy, the Orion Nebula, and a red dwarf. While the image through the lens was microscopic to our textbook images of Jupiter, the Great Red Spot was still visible. How cool! Dean Regas was our guide for the evening, and was a blast to talk to. He told vivid stories about constellations, keeping things entertaining while still educating the group. We watched a slideshow prior to checking out the telescope, learning about misconceptions of space including how to prove the Moon Landing was NOT a hoax. (Not that I had any doubt... but it's good knowledge for a debate.) Four full hours of star gazing and stories, and it only costs $6.00 per person. Plus there are history tours and classes to learn about astronomy. The Cincinnati Observatory is definitely a hidden gem in this city. To quote Bill Nye: "SCIENCE RULES!" ----- Fun Fact: Mt. Adams received its namesake from President John Quincy Adams's visit to dedicate the Observatory. Prior to this, the area was called Mt. Ida.

Went out impromptu like to attend Saturn-day at the Observatory. I mean, I'd already taken my pants off and settled in with comic books when my friend asked if I wanted to go see Saturn, so naturally I agreed. When we got there, the event was huuuuge and crowded. The scenery was beautiful and it was very open, so it didn't feel like there were 600 people, and the line moved pretty quickly once it got rolling. It cost $7 for the event, but I found that to be pretty fair to go through the two different historic buildings, look at all the antiques and star charts, wander the grounds, and, of course, see lots of shiny space. There were four telescopes set up on the grounds aimed at various other Heavenly bodies- two on the moon (amazing, it's more gorgeous than you think) and Jupiter- though I gather Mars was on view later in the evening. The volunteers and staff were clearly overwhelmed and in for a long night, but super helpful and patient none the less. Later in the night, there was an astounding laser pointer being used to point out constellations for those still lingering. Of course, the main event was Saturn - which could be viewed from either of the larger telescopes. These you really had to wait for, though they tried to make the line move as quickly and smoothly as possible. While it took a long time to see everything due to crowds, it was a pleasant event and I would highly recommend going on one of their regular nights to get the full experience, rather than just a special event day.

I love this place, I have been here for 3 events now and I am never disappointed! This last time I went to see the 2013 Supermoon, I got some really amazing photographs of the Observatory and the telescopes during the sunset, I have never been here when there was sun was out and so was never yet able to photograph the buildings or get really good photos of the scopes. It was a great sight when the Supermoon peaked over the tree tops, and seeing it through another space-lovers telescope's that they brought themselves to share with the crowd was so cool! I also was able to photograph the moon and was to thankful that the clouds of the day had blown away, to be able to capture some great images. I took a photo w my phone, of me photographing the Supermoon, it's in the gallery, if you want to check it out :) They were really organized this time, compared to last time I came to see the Supermoon, they were also selling tickets to see Saturn through the older telescope, and that was really just so amazing! You could even see Titan! I am so glad they were so organized, and look forward to more of these events in the future. While waiting our turn to see Saturn through the telescope, they were offering presentations of software for seeing what is going on in space, and that was really awesome. I also, always love to look at the meteors they sell in the gift shop. I hope one day to be able to own some :)

We used the Cincinnati Observatory for our wedding venue in 2012. We had a small wedding (40-45 people) and were able to use the front lawn/stairs for the ceremony, one of the buildings for a buffet style sit down dinner, and the second building for cake and dancing. We worked with Craig Niemi, the Observatory's Executive Director. He was GREAT! We were able to use the Observatory's tables and chairs, which helped us save a lot on rental costs. The evening was complete with Craig himself providing history on the telescopes and the observatory, we even had a private viewing set up for our guests once it was dark with the telescope viewing the moon. Truly an unforgettable night, our guests are still talking about it almost 2 years later!

If you haven't been to the oldest operating telescope in the US....you need to check it out. Special and group viewings.... Saturn viewing was unbelievable.

I guess this review is because (I assume) Venus is closer to the Moon tonight than any time I can ever remember. Reminded the time I visited the Cincinnati observatory. It was a few years ago when the Cincinnati Roller Girls had a meet there for seeing the Observatory, and the oldest operating telescope, and the International Space Station flew over too. We saw Saturn in the oldest telescope, and it looked like a tooth-pick skewered olive. It was quite amazing. There's an amazing cornucopia waiting for you at the Cincinnati Observatory. So much history. Part of your history. Go.

Interesting and beautiful place! We attended 'Date night, late night' and despite cloudy skies and no stars, we still enjoyed very engaging evening with mythology for adults stories and a tour around the building. People are really dedicated and helpful, we liked the relaxed atmosphere and the stories we heard about how the observatory was built, damaged and restored. We feel very lucky to have a public observatory here in Cincinnati! We will definitely be back for another event, to see planets or the moon :) Very cool way to spend a date night!

The Cincinnati Observatory is one of the most unique astronomical institutions in the United States. It is a fully functioning 19th century observatory used daily by the public and amateur astronomers, civic organizations, teachers and students, history buffs and science mavens. Located atop the rolling hills of Mt. Lookout, the Observatory is home to the world's oldest telescope still in use nightly by the general public. Two handsome National Historic Landmark buildings and the beautiful grounds provide a serene, park-like setting while still being centrally located in the city of Cincinnati. The 1843 Merz und Mahler 11 inch refractor - Housed in the "Mitchel Building". May be the oldest continually used telescope in the world. It is currently used for public education programs. The 1904 Alvan Clark & Sons 16 inch refractor - Housed in the "Main Building". Used in public education programs and graduate research.

If you are into star gazing, this is where you need to be. Brought my husband here on 'Saturday Date Night' for his birthday. It was a great time and educational. Now, when we look at the stars, we know what we're looking at.

Fascinating and amazing place. Beautiful grounds and buildings. Dedicated staff with programs to please any age group. Highly recommend - date night, family night, something different night.

Pick a clear night and head up to the Observatory. Looking through any of the large telescopes is one thing, and when the volunteers are there with their portable telescopes it's really fun because you can see so many spots in the sky. The whole scene is very cool.

What a cool place! My husband and I attended their Valentine's Day event. Neither of us had been there before. The main building is full of history and is beautiful. The staff we interacted with were all very friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell they enjoy being there. It was so neat to tour the buildings and see the domes and giant telescopes. We got to see Venus through a small telescope outside and the Beetleguese star through a large telescope. For the event, they had a violinist, light refreshments, wine, and a champagne toast. We also got to take home a calendar and a flower at the end of the event and they took a professional-style photo of us. I learned so much and it was definitely romantic! We really enjoyed ourselves. If you get a chance to go to an event here, do it!

We went tonight for the special meteorite display and it was awesome. Several local collectors were there, and along with seeing meteors from the moon and Mars, everyone was more than happy to answer each and every question. I've been to the Observatory many, many times, and while I am always awed by its history...building architecture, breathtaking telescopes, etc., what I really love is the passion of its people....from the staff to the volunteers, everyone is (as you would expect) very knowledgeable, but what really makes every visit special is the obvious love for what they do. We are fortunate to have this extraordinary landmark (and the people who make it come to life) in Cincinnati.

This place is located in a neighborhood. The grounds are nice and clean. We went on a weekday morning so it was empty. The building didn't house much but a few interesting artifacts. We were taken up to the main telescope. The lady opened the roof and everything. It was like a little personal tour. So neat that she took the time to do that.

I enjoyed this space and liked how we were given a mini tour of the place and an up close look at the telescope. They had a couple of artifacts on display as well. We also saw a couple of deer behind the building which was nice.

I went to an event here recently and enjoyed the history, knowledge and enthusiasm that the staff expressed. I got to look through a few telescopes and even saw Saturn and Orion's nebulae. I know hardly anything about astronomy, and the staff were awesome and really helpful. Membership is pretty reasonable if I recall, and there are many free/low cost events. I was really happy to see young kids faces light up after looking through the telescopes and actually get excited by something other than Justin Bieber.

We are planning to go back to this place before we leave Cincinnati next summer. My first and only visit was for a Groupon my wife found for a late night star gazing session. It was very interesting and informative at the same time. Even if star gazing isn't something you would think of doing this is a truly unique date night event you won't forget.

If you enjoy astronomy, science, technology, or any kind of learning, this place is definitely for you. I attended an 'Astronomy Friday' event. There was a 40-minute lecture followed by a tour of the two telescopes on the premises. The lecture had lots of interesting facts about outer space and some humor, presented by someone who really clearly loves the Observatory. The tour was amazing, the mechanics of old telescopes is fascinating and impressive, as well as the history of the Observatory in Cincinnati (for example, why is Mt Adams called 'Mt Adams'?). It was a cloudy night, so I didn't even get to look at the stars, and I still loved the experience. Definitely looking forward to my next trip.

I'm posting a "thank you" that we sent to the Observatory's director. It's not quite a review but is definitely an overview of what you can come to expect from this beautiful place and it's staff. Was absolutely a highlight of our trip. I wanted to take a minute to express our sincerest thank you for being treated like royalty. We were in town visiting a friend, and on our last day in Cincinnati, we happened upon the Observatory. It was late in the day (a little after 6pm), but we wanted to stop by for a quick look. We met one of your staff, _____, in the parking area. We were hesitant to enter as it looked like everyone was gone and the Observatory was closed. ____ said hello and asked if he could help. My friend informed him of our just stopping by for a quick look and that it was our last day in town. ____ asked us where we were from and informed us of how the tours usually work. He also let us know that there was a "function" at 7pm. But that wasn't it...he offered us a "personal tour" since we were from out of town. He then proceeded to spend the next 45 minutes of his time showing us all three telescopes in the two buildings. His historical data and knowledge of the equipment and facilities was AMAZING!!! His love for this field was evident. We were impressed, wowed and in awe. Never had we expected this kind of treatment, let alone at this time of day when he should have been finishing up and heading home. I cannot express enough, how thankful we are for ____'s dedication. It truly was one, if not the highlight of our visit to Cincinnati.

Great wedding venue. Very helpful staff and volunteers. The space was great for 50 or so guests.

Where the Past meets the Future, a gorgeous building with tons of history, the staff here is helpful, and passionate about space and geekiness. they have tons of classes and programs to get kids and adults hyped up on space dust. On clear days or nights, there can be at least 2 or three smaller telescopes running on the grounds, in case the big ones aren't up and running. And it's just a short hike to Ault park, so it's a great spot to have a picnic as well.

This place is amazing! I stopped by during Mt. Lookout's Luminaria, while they were having free refreshments and star gazing, and it was really fun and educational. I felt like I was in another time, using these huge telescopes that were made over a hundred years ago. I look forward to visiting again for one of their many programs!

This place is very cool and historical. Stopped in for a festival they were having and got to your both building. It was during the day so we didn't get to star gaze but we will for sure be back for their night events. They even have some adults only nights!

For a $5 donation each, my friends and I enjoyed an evening at the Observatory which consisted of a quick lecture about space and the potential for life on other planets. This was met with mixed reviews. A couple of my friends appreciated it. Others did not. I personally love it! Once it was dark enough, we used the high powered telescope to check out Jupiter, Jupiter's moons, the moon and Saturn!! It was amazing! Saturn looked so surreal...and with enough patients, you could snap a picture of what you saw with your smartphone! After everyone got their turn, we headed outside to check out some constellations. As a bonus, our tour guide timed our session so we'd be outside just as the International Space Station flew over us! So exciting!! I immediately recommended this to everyone I saw for the next few days. This is a place most natives dismiss/don't think about but wow are they missing out!

This is one of the most unique places within the city and it's a MUST SEE!!! We were able to see through the oldest public telescope in the country. Between bright stars and other deep space objects, the history tours and the informative volunteers, along with the overall experience, we couldn't have had a better time. The family and I were just shocked at how old the telescope was and the impact of its existence upon our nation's history. If you're looking for something educational or just plain fun, then go to the observatory. It's also a great place to go if you're on a budget or just want to look at the stars. They have something for everyone.