Entry No. 3 — the Des Moines file — filed under: haunted
Drake Municipal Observatory
“flickering lights, doors bursting open, and cold spots”
A 1921 limestone observatory hidden inside a public golf course, where the cremated ashes of astronomer Daniel Morehouse — who discovered Comet Morehouse in 1908 — and his wife Myrtle are interred inside the rotunda wall, marked by a plaque. Students working the historic 8.25-inch refractor have reported flickering lights, doors bursting open, and cold spots, including incidents witnessed by longtime lecturer Herb Schwartz. Free public lecture-and-viewing nights run Friday evenings spring through fall.
The story
If you walk between the 17th green and the 18th tee at Waveland Golf Course, you'll find a 1921 limestone structure that has nothing to do with golf. Jointly operated by Drake University and the city of Des Moines, the Drake Municipal Observatory exists because of astronomer Daniel Morehouse, who gained international recognition in 1908 after discovering Comet Morehouse. When Morehouse passed away, he didn't leave the building behind—literally. His cremated remains, along with those of his wife Myrtle, are sealed permanently inside the rotunda wall behind a bronze commemorative plaque.
The building functions as both an astronomical lab and a tomb, and those who work late shifts under the dome report that Morehouse might still be keeping tabs on the equipment. Student operators and longtime lecturer Herb Schwartz have documented unexplainable disruptions while operating the historic 8.25-inch brass-and-iron refractor telescope: sudden cold spots in the room, heavy doors bursting open unprompted, and overhead lights flickering on cue while tracking celestial objects.
What it's like
Bypass the main golf course clubhouse and take Observatory Road off Polk Boulevard, which winds up to a small lot beside the limestone building. You'll step inside the rotunda—where you can spot the plaque marking where the Morehouses are interred—before taking a seat for the 8 PM lecture. Afterward, visitors take turns at the eyepiece of the century-old refractor under the dome. Because the dome opens directly to the elements to prevent heat distortion, dress significantly warmer than the ambient temperature suggests.
The move: Go to a free Friday public night, sit through the 8 PM astronomy lecture, then take turns at the historic refractor under the dome — and find the rotunda plaque marking where Morehouse's ashes are sealed in the wall.
📍 Before you go Don't head for the golf course clubhouse — the observatory has its own approach. Take Observatory Road off the west side of Polk Boulevard, a couple of blocks south of University Avenue; it winds up to a small lot beside the limestone dome, with overflow parking along the lane. Programs run spring through fall and hinge entirely on clear skies, so pick a cloudless night and dress warmer than you'd think — the dome is open and unheated. It's free and no reservation is needed, but you're inside a working public course, so park tidily and tread lightly. Waveland, dedicated in 1901 as the oldest municipal course west of the Mississippi, makes a fine daytime pairing.
- 📍 Drake
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 4898 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311 (inside Waveland Golf Course, between the 17th green and 18th tee)
Hours: Free public programs Friday nights, spring through autumn, weather permitting; 8 PM lecture followed by telescope viewing. Closed in winter. Confirm schedule on Drake's observatory page.
Pair it with
- Wonderland Apothecary at Groovy Goods — Pair an evening of stargazing with a trip two blocks from Drake's campus to browse ritual herbs inside this apothecary.
- By Wysteria — Combine evening astronomy with a daytime cold-process soapmaking workshop down the street in the Drake neighborhood.
- Enchanted (Enchanted Mystical Boutique) — Follow up the ghost stories in the observatory rotunda with a tarot session on Ingersoll Avenue.
Good to know
How do I access the observatory without driving onto the golf course?
Take Observatory Road off the west side of Polk Boulevard, a couple of blocks south of University Avenue. It leads directly to the observatory lot without passing through the Waveland clubhouse.
When are public viewing nights held?
Free public programs run on Friday evenings from spring through autumn, starting with an 8 PM lecture followed by telescope viewing, weather permitting.
Where in the building are Daniel Morehouse's ashes interred?
They are sealed inside the rotunda wall behind a bronze plaque, alongside the ashes of his wife, Myrtle.
Do I need tickets or reservations?
No. Public programs are completely free and open to all without reservations, though viewing depends entirely on clear skies.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · littlevillagemag.com
last checked: 2026-06-06