In 1909, Denison University Trustee Ambrose Swasey contributed
the funding to build an observatory, which he also furnished
with its original astronomical equipment. At that time, his
firm, the Warner & Swasey Company of Cleveland, had manufactured
many of the world’s finest and largest telescopes. Built of
white Vermont marble, the interior was renovated and the outer
dome replaced in 1970. Today’s observatory houses a 9-inch
refracting and two 8-inch reflecting telescopes, which are
fitted for astrophotography. It also houses the astronomy
library and dark rooms. Swasey Observatory is not only used as a
student educational and research facility but also for public
outreach. Open houses are hosted by the Department of
Physics/Astronomy and astronomy students on a regular basis
during the academic year. Announcement of these open house
events are posted on the Physic Department home page as well as
in the local papers.