Statement of Significance (as of designation - July 17, 1991):
This observatory was built in 1865 on the campus of Vassar College for Maria Mitchell (1818-1889), astronomer, professor, crusader for women's higher education and professional advancement, and the first woman elected to both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. The custom-designed building was Mitchell's home, laboratory, and classroom for the last 20 years of her life. Her emphasis on high scientific standards and feminist ideals made Maria Mitchell a role model for both the women she taught and those who followed her in the struggle for women's equality.