James Observatory

Occupying a prominent and unique place in the history of Millsaps, the James Observatory is a familiar campus landmark. The observatory is the oldest building on campus, built by Dr. Dan A. James in honor of his father and brother. Dr. James, who entered Millsaps as a student in 1892, also built the original Kappa Alpha fraternity house in 1903.

Built on a hill in the northwest corner of the campus, the red masonry building is surrounded by a white wooden catwalk. Atop the structure is its most outstanding feature, a wood and metal rotating dome. Inside is a 6-inch Warner Swayze refracting telescope originally installed in 1901. A small powered finder telescope is attached to the larger one, along with a clock which turns the instruments as the Earth rotates so that objects viewed through the lens will remain in focus. The James Observatory underwent major renovations in 1980, and is now open for star-gazing and viewing comets, eclipses, constellations, and planets.

In the past, Millsaps astronomers used the observatory instruments in conjunction with the stars overhead to calculate the exact time, which they would then sell at a lofty price to railroad stations, who needed the information for the departure and arrival of trains.

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