McDonald Observatory of the University of Texas

Original unit in complex forming one of the great observatory centers of the world. Built in the 1930s under terms of legacy from William Johnson McDonald (1844-1926), a Paris (Texas) banker interested in the stars. A well-educated man, McDonald lived frugally. As a hobby, he read science books and viewed planets through a small telescope. His will granted to the University of Texas $800,000: "to build an observatory and promote the study of astronomy." This site was selected because of its high ratio of clear nights, its 6,800-foot altitude, and its quite low latitude that permits observation of southern skies. The observatory was operated for its first 25 years mainly by astronomers from the University of Chicago, more recently primarily from the University of Texas. Until 1948, its 82-inch telescope was second largest in the world. Its fine work and site have resulted in the addition of other telescopes including a 107-inch instrument sponsored jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the University of Texas. Discoveries made here have included interstellar polarization and the satellites of several planets.

McDonald Observatory of the University of Texas is a historical marker in Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County, dedicated in 1968. It is one of 22 historical markers documented in Jeff Davis County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 31 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.6713, -104.0228 near Fort Davis. The nearest cataloged historic site is Grierson-Sproul House (historic place), about 9.0 miles away. Others within a short drive include Trueheart House, Fort Davis Post Cemetery, and San Antonio-El Paso Road.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5243010480. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.