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Yerkes Observatory of the University of Chicago is dedicated

The Yerkes Observatory is located Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States. It was operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics from its founding in 1897 until 2018.

The Yerkes Observatory is located Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States. It was operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics from its founding in 1897 until 2018. Ownership was transferred to the non-profit Yerkes Future Foundation (YFF) in May 2020, which began millions of dollars of restoration and renovation of the historic building and grounds. Yerkes re-opened for public tours and programming in May 2022.

This astronomical observatory—known as "the birthplace of modern astrophysics"—was founded in 1892 by astronomer George Ellery Hale and financed by businessman Charles T. Yerkes.

Historical Significance

The Yerkes Observatory is located Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States.

Events Before

  1. German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of X-rays

    German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of X-rays

  2. American Emile Grubbe is the first doctor to use radiation treatment for breast cancer

    American Emile Grubbe is the first doctor to use radiation treatment for breast cancer

  3. Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Boheme" premieres in Turin

    Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Boheme" premieres in Turin

  4. Charilaos Vasilakos of Greece wins the first modern marathon in 3:18 at the Panhellenic Games

    Charilaos Vasilakos was a Greek athlete and the first man to win a marathon race. He also won a silver medal for a second place finish in marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens.

  5. Writer "Heart of Darkness" Joseph Conrad (39) marries Englishwoman Jessie George (23)

    Joseph Conrad was a Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language and – though he did not speak English fluently until his twenties...

Events After

  1. Brooklyn merges with New York City to form the present-day City of New York

    The City of Greater New York was the consolidation of the City of New York with Brooklyn, western Queens County, and Staten Island, which took effect on January 1, 1898.

  2. Painter Henri Matisse (28) weds Amélie Noellie Parayre

    Painter Henri Matisse (28) weds Amélie Noellie Parayre

  3. Australian cricketer Joe Darling hits the first six in Test cricket (out of the ground)

    Australian cricketer Joe Darling hits the first six in Test cricket (out of the ground)

  4. Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar (25) weds political activist and poet Alice Ruth Moore (22) in New York

    Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar (25) weds political activist and poet Alice Ruth Moore (22) in New York

  5. Battle of Atbara River: Anglo-Egyptian forces defeat 15,000 Sudanese during the Mahdist War, a turning point in the reco

    Battle of Atbara River: Anglo-Egyptian forces defeat 15,000 Sudanese during the Mahdist War, a turning point in the reconquest of Sudan

More from the 1890s

Physicist J. J. Thomson (33) weds Rose Elisabeth Paget

Physicist J. J. Thomson (33) weds Rose Elisabeth Paget

Ellis Island opens as a US immigration inspection station and becomes the gateway to the United States for more than 12

Ellis Island opens as a US immigration inspection station and becomes the gateway to the United States for more than 12 million people

German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of X-rays

German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of X-rays

Eritrea is consolidated into a colony by the Italian government

Eritrea, officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. Its capital and largest city is Asmara.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on October 21, 1897?
The Yerkes Observatory is located Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States. It was operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics from its founding in 1897 until 2018. Ownership was transferred to the non-profit Yerkes Future Foundation (YFF) in May 2020, which began millions of dollars of restoration and renovation of the historic building and grounds.
Why is Yerkes Observatory of the University of Chicago is dedicated significant?
The Yerkes Observatory is located Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States.

Explore More

October 21 in HistoryYear 1897