McCormick Observatory (Leander McCormick)

Leander McCormick wanted to give Virginia the largest telescope in the world. The Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire set him back, but in 1885 — on Thomas Jefferson's birthday, April 13 — the observatory on Mount Jefferson was dedicated. The 26-inch refractor, built by Alvan Clark & Sons, was the second largest in the world at the time. The dome, at 45 feet, was the largest in the world when completed.

McCormick was the brother of Cyrus, the reaper magnate — their family's mechanical harvester had reshaped American agriculture. The telescope he gave UVA went on to measure stellar distances for more than 80 years. It remains the largest Alvan Clark refractor still mounted on its original Clark mount.

Today the observatory runs public nights twice a month — first and third Fridays — free, with a rotating cast of faculty, postdocs, and graduate students presenting. Registration fills fast. The 26-inch refractor still takes visitors to the sky.