Entry No. 30 — the Cleveland file — filed under: records
Burrell Memorial Observatory
Built in 1940, this vintage campus observatory houses a magnificent 13 3/8-inch Warner & Swasey refracting telescope, the second-largest of its kind in Ohio. It opens its doors to the public for special stargazing nights and lectures, offering a hands-on step back in time.
The story
If you wander onto Baldwin Wallace University’s campus after dark, you might spot an unassuming 1940 brick building topped with a metallic dome sitting quietly off Fifth Avenue. Built through a gift from Katherine Ward Burrell, this suburban time capsule was designed to bring the deep cosmos down to a small college campus, preserving a slice of Cleveland's industrial optics history.
Inside rests the main draw: a massive 13 3/8-inch refracting telescope crafted by the legendary Cleveland precision engineering firm Warner & Swasey. It holds court as the second-largest refractor of its kind in Ohio. Unlike modern computerized telescopes that auto-align with digital push-buttons, this mechanical instrument relies on heavy gears, polished brass knobs, and physical optical alignment.
When public nights roll around, you get to watch the massive dome ceiling manually crank open to reveal the night sky overhead. Standing inside as the cool night air rushes in and peering through glass polished over eight decades ago feels less like a routine college lecture and more like stepping into an old-world astronomer's private workshop.
What it's like
You’ll usually start the evening at a free public astronomy presentation in the nearby Kleist Center before taking a short walk over to the observatory dome. Inside, the space is unheated—the temperature in the dome has to match the outside air so the giant glass lens doesn't distort—so bundle up during chilly nights. You'll queue in the dim dome room, watch the roof crank open, and take your turn looking directly through the vintage brass-fitted eyepiece.
The move: Attend one of the free public astronomy lectures at the nearby Kleist Center, then walk over to the observatory to peer through the vintage brass-knobbed refractor telescope and watch the dome manually crank open.
- 📍 Berea
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 42 E Fifth Ave, Berea, OH 44017
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Stella Luna Counseling & Wellness — Unwind with sensory deprivation floating or halotherapy in nearby Middleburg Heights before spend your night gazing into deep space.
- Bad Medicine — Follow up an evening of stargazing with vinyl records and craft cocktails at this occult-tinged listening bar hidden behind a fake dentist office facade.
- Cleveland Curiosities — Examine earthly oddities and macabre taxidermy in Lakewood before heading down to Berea to inspect the vintage mechanics of the cosmos.
Good to know
Is there an admission fee for public stargazing?
No, public astronomy lectures and stargazing sessions at the observatory are free of charge.
Where do public open house events begin?
Events typically kick off with a free astronomy lecture at the nearby Kleist Center on campus before guests walk over to the observatory.
Why do I need to check the schedule and weather before going?
Public viewings are held on specific dates and rely entirely on clear night skies for optical telescope viewing.
What kind of telescope is housed inside?
The observatory features a vintage 1940 13 3/8-inch refracting telescope built by Warner & Swasey, the second-largest refractor in Ohio.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: bw.edu · clevelandartsevents.com · observatoriesofohio.org · Wikipedia · news-herald.com
last checked: 2026-07-21