The John H. Witte Observatory - A Brief History

The idea for the observatory was conceived by the members of the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. Through a cooperative agreement between the Des Moines County Conservation Board, the Burlington Community School System, and the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club, the idea became a reality.  A substantial grant from the John H. Witte, Jr. Foundation provided the funding for materials, with nearly all the construction being done by members of the club.  Work began in the spring of 1985 and was completed two years later, after many weekends and weeknights of work.  The observatory was dedicated in May 1987, the culmination of a labor of love for members of the club.  In the years since the dedication, thousands of people have climbed the ladder to peer through the eyepiece of the beautiful brass refractor.  

In 1996 a second observatory, the Prugh-Carver Observatory, was added through a grant from the Carver Foundation.  Dedicated to Burton Prugh, a Burlington businessman, it stands as a reminder of his devotion and support to the Southeast Iowa Astronomy Club.  It houses Mr. Witte's personal telescope - an 8" Fecker refractor, as well as several smaller scopes.

Dedicated on September 17th of 2004, the new Stone-Kelly Observatory houses the 16" Cassegrain that was formerly on the Burlington High School off Roosevelt Avenue.