Typically, it is best to get away from the city to get a really good look at the stars in the night sky. That's why observatories tend to be located in more remote areas. However, there's also something to be said for having such facilities available to college students. That's why just a few blocks away from the University of Denver you will find Observatory Park. The park has open spaces, tennis courts and playgrounds...you know, typical park stuff. In its center, however, you will find the feature that gives the park its name...Chamberlain Observatory.
The observatory is owned and operated by the University of Denver and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1890, it was named for Humphrey B Chamberlain, a Denver real estate magnate who pledged $50,000 to build and equip the facility. The Romanesque structure was designed by Denver architect Robert S Roeschlaub and built from rusticated red sandstone blocks.
The Denver Astronomical Society hosts regular events at the observatory. When my kids were younger, we took in a few of these events where we got to look through the telescope in the rotunda, as well as other telescopes that were set up in outside of the building. Even if you don't get to actually do any stargazing, the building itself is a unique sight to see. The Chamberlain Observatory is found inside Observatory Park, 2930 East Warren Avenue in Denver.
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