Dedicated in June 1916, Van Vleck Observatory is located at the highest point on the campus of Wesleyan University in Middletown. It was built to replace Wesleyan’s previous astronomical facilities, which were a tower mounted on a dormitory to serve as an “observatory,” and an astronomy building that was little more than a shed. The new building was funded by Joseph Van Vleck as a memorial to his brother, professor John M. Van Vleck (1833-1912). Professor Van Vleck had already begun planning for the observatory, to which his family had donated more than $25,000 in 1903 to start the fund for its erection, but he died before construction commenced. Henry Bacon, the building‘s architect, designed a number of other buildings for the University, leaving his impact on the Wesleyan campus. Today, the observatory has three onsite telescopes. One of these is a 20″ telescope that recently underwent a restoration in preparation for the Observatory’s 100th anniversary.
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