The Detroit Observatory June 17 and 19 will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding in Ann Arbor. The observatory, 1398 E. Ann St., was the centerpiece of a vision held by U-M’s first president, Henry Philip Tappan, to transform the fledgling University into one of the first research universities in the United States, following the Prussian model of higher education. The sesquicentennial celebration will honor Tappan’s family and other descendents of observatory supporters, as well as the vision and generosity of the observatory’s original benefactors from the city of Detroit. For details, see Events, pages 18-19, or visit http://www.DetroitObservatory.umich.edu. (Photo by Martin Vloet, U-M Photo Services)
