Monday, October 15th - Cincinnati
We found our way to the Cincinnati Observatory, established in 1842. There, we set up an interview with Educational Officer John Ventre, who gave us the story behind the telescope’s history and a fellow named Ormsby M. Mitchel. Mitchel was a West Point Graduate, and an avid astronomy buff. After a short stint as an officer in the army, he returned to Cincinnati where he practiced law for a brief period of time. He then turned his attention to teaching mathematics and trying to establish the nation’s first professional observatory.
President Adams had unsuccessfully tried for years to create an observatory that would be on par with the great observatories of the day. Mitchel had much better success with the wealthy individuals in the community of Cincinnati for the construction of the observatory. Mitchel was selected to head this endeavor, and to be its first director.
The Civil War broke out, and Mitchel took up the call to return to the Federal Army. Mitchel would become a hero for the North, however he died of Yellow Fever before seeing the conclusion of the war.
The observatory has had a long and rich history, and has gone through many changes. It was slated for demolition in the 1990’s as its usefulness as a research observatory had come to an end. A group of private citizens rallied to create a non-profit that would save this historical site. It now operates daily as an astronomy education center.
Our second interview was with one of our advisors, Trudy E. Bell of the Antique Telescope Society. She gave us an overview of differences between refractors and reflectors of the 18th and 19th centuries.
After our interviews, we packed up the car and drove 4 hours to Cleveland, where we ate a late dinner and watched the Cleveland Indians beat the Boston Red Sox on a tiny TV in the restaurant. I didn’t know you could make a Chili Relleno with 7-11’s cheese-sauce. I’m not sure where this recipe came from, but I bet it didn’t come from Sonora, Mexico. This trip has made us aware of the inverse square law regarding Mexican cuisine: the farther away you are from Mexico, the less authentic it is. I’m looking forward to our travels next week in the Southwest, where every night we will be assured of truly wonderful Mexican dining.