Orson Pratt’s astronomical observatory, located on Temple Square’s southeast corner, built in 1869.
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MLA: Parshall, Ardis E. "On Earth, and in Heaven." Keepapitchin.org, 14 Apr 2015, https://keepapitchinin.org/2015/04/14/on-earth-and-in-heaven/.
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10 thoughts on “On Earth, and in Heaven”
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I absolutely love this. Any information about what was inside?
A telescope, to be used through the “retractable” roof (you can perhaps make out the planks on the roof — that section of the roof was removable), plus a desk and chairs and some shelves. Somewhere I have a photo of the interior, and when I hunt it out I’ll post it.
This is great, Ardis. Were any remnants, inside or outside, of it saved?
I’m not aware of any relics, Gary. I suppose Orson Pratt or his family kept the telescope. The building itself was of the cheapest adobe.
If anybody else picks up hints of relics saved, please let us all know.
There is also this similar picture:
http://templeandobservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Pratt-Observatory.png
That shows the roof construction much more clearly — thanks, Kellen.
Ardis, you mentioned it was built in 1869. Do you know when it was demolished/removed?
Approximately 1900, maybe as early as 1897. (I think. I haven’t found a news story or anything else contemporary to pin it down.)
Interesting, thanks!
It may be worth mentioning that this structure was not used by Orson Pratt. Pratt established the Initial Point for surveys of Salt Lake City in 1847 and determined its latitude and longitude. In 1869, the structure was built for the work of George W. Dean of the United States Coast Survey to make a more accurate determination of Pratt’s Initial Point. So it is Orson Pratt’s observatory in an honorary sense, or as an addition to his previous work.
Hopefully the URL below will take those interested to a California newspaper reporting Dean’s 1869 measurements. It gives detail about the structure and the astronomical instruments.
http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=MDA18690316.2.3#