Picture the majestic Chamberlin Auxiliary Telescope. Its red sandstone gleams under the Colorado sun. This isn’t just any telescope. It’s a piece of Denver history. Built in 1890 it houses a 20-inch Alvan Clark refractor. This was the fifth largest of its kind in the United States.
The Chamberlin Observatory is more than just a building. It’s a testament to ambition. Humphrey B Chamberlin a Denver real estate tycoon pledged $50000 in 1888 to build it. He envisioned a place of scientific discovery. He wanted to bring the wonders of the cosmos to Denver.
The story of its creation is a fascinating one. The lenses were crafted by Alvan Clark and Sons renowned opticians of their time. The cost? A hefty $11000. The mechanical mount was built by George N Saegmuller. They were paid partly in land. The Silver Panic of 1893 hit Chamberlin hard. He went bankrupt. The land value plummeted. Professor Herbert A Howe stepped in. He personally paid Clark. He even delayed Saegmuller’s payment. Howe helped display the telescope at the Chicago Columbian Exposition in 1893. He personally transported the 150-pound lenses from Chicago to Denver in a private train car. Can you imagine?
Howe wasn’t just an astronomer. He was the Dean and a professor at the University of Denver. He oversaw the telescope’s final assembly. He made the first observations in July 1894. He saw the star cluster M13 in Hercules and our moon. The first public viewing was on August 1st. He showed the Swedish Methodist Christian Endeavor Society Saturn. Howe’s observations of Mercury’s transit across the sun were published in the Astronomical Journal.
The Chamberlin Auxiliary Telescope is still functional today. It’s used by scientists students and visitors. It’s a remarkable survivor a symbol of Denver’s enduring spirit. A testament to perseverance in the face of financial hardship. More importantly it represents the enduring human quest for knowledge and the beauty of the universe. Remember that the next time you look up at the night sky.