Tag: History
5 Cities, 50 Years, 5,000 Miles: The Remarkable Afterlife of America’s First Planetarium Projector
Header Image: The Zeiss Mark II projector can be seen here in the Adler’s original domed theater in the 1930s. Image Credit: The Adler Planetarium Archives Written By: Mike Smail, Director of Theaters and Digital Experience In January of 1970, the Adler Planetarium de-installed our original Zeiss planetarium projector (the first one in the Western […]
The Adler Planetarium’s Original 1930 Zeiss Projector
Header Image: Planetarium guests attend a sky show with the Zeiss Mk II projector at the Adler c. 1955. Image Credit: The Adler Planetarium Archives When the Adler Planetarium opened in 1930 as America’s first planetarium, the centerpiece was a star projector made by the Carl Zeiss company of Germany, the Zeiss “Mark II”. This […]
Meet Maude Bennot: The Woman Behind the Adler
The story of Maude Bennot—at least, the part of it that concerns the Adler Planetarium—doesn’t have a great ending. This is just a heads-up: You won’t like what happens. But if you love science and community and the place the Adler is today, you will like Maude Bennot. You’ll like her so much that you’ll […]
Copernicus: The Astronomer & the City
Who’s that guy sitting on a pedestal greeting you as you walk up to the Adler Planetarium? It’s one the most prominent astronomers in the history of modern science, Nicolaus Copernicus! In honor of his 545th birthday, let’s dive into the history behind this statue & this astronomer’s legacy. When you approach the Adler Planetarium […]