Cincinnati Observatory celebrates 150 years in Mount Lookout

The Cincinnati Observatory observes a big anniversary this weekend.

Mt. Adams used to be called Mt. Ida, until former President John Quincy Adams spoke at the dedication of the Cincinnati Observatory there. Mt. Lookout got its name when the Observatory relocated there 150 years ago.

Observatory Executive Director Anna Hehman says other contributions to Cincinnati history are much bigger.

Orsmby MacKnight Mitchel founded the Observatory after he gave a series of lectures. "He found that it was popular; these talks were so popular, he wanted to create a public observatory," she says. "Not an academic one or one for the rich or whatever might have been inaccessible at the time. So, he literally crowd-funded, going door-to-door, selling shares."