FACT SHEET

THE BUHL PLANETARIUM AND
INSTITUTE OF POPULAR SCIENCE

January, 2000

Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Building

Constructed at a cost of $1.1 million by the Buhl Foundation.
Dedicated and conveyed to the City of Pittsburgh on October 24, 1939.
Exterior façade consists of Indiana Limestone, with statuary produced by well-known sculptor Sidney Waugh.
Interior walls and pendulum pit consist of Florentine Marble.
First public building in the City(and, possibly the State) built with air conditioning.

The Theater of the Stars and the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector

Oldest operating, major planetarium projector in the world!!!

Fifth major planetarium in the United States; last installed before World War II.

First planetarium projector in the world to be placed on an elevator!!!

First planetarium theater in the world built with a small theatrical stage.

First planetarium theater in the world(and, perhaps, the first theater!) to install a special sound system specifically for the hearing-impaired!
Manufactured by the Zeiss Optical Works in Jena, Germany at a cost of $135.000.
Projector includes 106 lenses capable of producing 9,000 star pictures!
Provided courses in Celestial Navigation to military pilots, bound for service in World War II.

The People's Observatory and the Ten-inch, Siderostat-type, Refractor Telescope

Second largest Siderostat-type telescope in the world!

Dedicated November 19, 1941; Harlow Shapley, well-known twentieth century astronomer(then, Director of the Harvard College Observatory) delivered keynote address. The Planet Saturn was the first object viewed through the telescope.
Designed primarily for public use, but constructed at professional observatory specifications, at a cost of $30,000.
Historic Anecdote: On the same evening of the Observatory dedication, Buhl started a new Planetarium Sky Show and opened a new gallery exhibit. The Sky Show, regarding Celestial Navigation, was titled "Bombers by Starlight." The new exhibit, in Buhl's lower-level Octagon Gallery(which encircles the planetarium projector pit, below the planetarium theater) was titled "Can America Be Bombed?" This exhibit opened two and one-half weeks before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii!

OTHER HISTORIC EQUIPMENT AND ARTIFACTS IN BUILDING

Large World Map - Originally created by the U.S. Maritime Commission for the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, at the time of creation it was considered the largest Mercator's Projection Map in the world! This map is displayed along the western wall of the first floor's Great Hall.

U.S. Steel Mural - This large mural, attached to the southern wall of the first floor's Great Hall, depicts the rise of technology. A special lighting system for this mural exists, with the control unit located in the former office of Buhl's Discovery gift shop.

Beautiful brass and marble pit displaying the true cardinal points of the compass - Originally used to display the Foucault Pendulum, it still displays the cardinal points of direction.

Grand Clock - This clock greets the public as they enter the building's front doors; its control unit is located on the second floor.

Beautiful Wood-Paneled Library - This is located on the building's second floor.

Lighted Picture Displays - Several lighted picture display cases exist, either imbedded into the wall(Planetarium hallway) or mounted on the wall(Observatory); any type of picture can be displayed.

Lecture Hall Science Table - This is located in the front of the Lecture Hall and is usable for any type of science presentation.

Painting of Halley's Comet - The late Willard F. Rockwell, Jr., former Chairman of Rockwell International Corporation and Founder of Astrotech International Corporation, donated a painting of Halley's Comet, created in Great Britain, to Buhl in 1986. This painting is currently located on the eastern wall of the Lecture Hall(a.k.a. Little Science Theater); it could be moved elsewhere.

Epideoscope - Antique, overhead-type projector used for Buhl's first Life Sciences public presentation, "The Micro Zoo." It is unknown whether this projector still operates. It is currently located in the Lecture Hall, but it could be displayed elsewhere.

Oscilloscope - Large older model, used for presentations in the Lecture Hall; it could be used and displayed elsewhere.

Rainbow Wallpaper - Wallpaper which refracts light, at the entrance to the East Gallery.

The building, and all equipment and artifacts within the building, are the property of the City of Pittsburgh. Learn more about the building, and its history, at the Internet web site: www.planetarium.cc

Glenn A. Walsh
633 Royce Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15243-1149

Telephone: (412) 561-7876
Telefacsimile: (412) 276-9472
Electronic Mail: GAWalsh@planetarium.cc
Internet Web Site: http://www.planetarium.cc

Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Disclaimer Statement: This Internet Web page is not affiliated with the Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium and Observatory,
The Carnegie Science Center, or The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Institute.

This Internet, World Wide Web Site administered by Glenn A. Walsh, Life Trustee, Andrew Carnegie Free Library.
Unless otherwise indicated, all web pages in this account are © Copyright 2000, Andrew Carnegie Free Library, All Rights Reserved.
Additions and corrections to: Jake@planetarium.cc

Last modified : Saturday, 15-Jul-2000 14:54:56 EDT.
You are the [an error occurred while processing this directive] visitor to this page, since January 23, 2000.

Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Internet Web Site Master Index for the History of
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh