The Vestal Street Opening Reception featured a blessing from Br. Guy Consolmagno; organizers have used the words “Incredible and Unforgettable” to describe the event.
The event celebrated Maria Mitchell’s 207th birthday (postponed by a day due to inclement weather) and honored the reopening of our historic Vestal Street Observatory.
After standing tall for over a century, the Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory, built in 1908, has recently undergone long-overdue conservation and repairs. This project reflects a shared commitment to preserving a vital piece of Nantucket’s scientific and cultural heritage—honoring Maria Mitchell while ensuring the Observatory continues to inspire curiosity and discovery for generations to come.
“Through the hard work and collaboration of many talented individuals, we are breathing new life into this beloved institution. Our goal is to ensure that future generations can continue to explore the wonders of the universe, be inspired by the beauty of the night sky, and carry forward the history and legacy of the remarkable Maria Mitchell.” – MMA Board Member and interior designer, Elizabeth Markel
The Observatory noted: “We were especially honored to welcome Brother Guy Consolmagno, Director of the Vatican Observatory, who joined us virtually to offer a special blessing. Our heartfelt thanks to MMA supporter, Kim Bepler, for making this extraordinary connection possible. This blessing held particular significance, as Maria Mitchell was the first woman admitted to the Vatican Observatory in 1857.
“The evening was made all the more memorable with a toast of Delphinium Wine and Silent Pool Gin, accompanied by exquisite offerings from Bloom Bar Café and the Shells Angels raw bar—a refined gathering of delicious libations and fare.
It was a true pleasure to welcome Darren Humphreys of Travel Sommelier, who shared more about our inspiring partnership and the nature-rooted travel and astronomy experiences we’re creating together.
The celebration concluded under the stars, with celestial moments in the dome and on the rooftop guided by our brilliant astronomy interns and Interim Director for Astronomy, Dr. Geoff Clayton.
Vestal Street Observatory tours, located at 3 Vestal Street, are available Monday through Saturday from 11am to 1pm. We invite you to visit and experience this treasured Nantucket landmark.”
This post contains edited content from an email newsletter from the Maria Mitchell Association
About Maria Mitchell
Maria Mitchell (pronounced Ma-RYE-ah) was an astronomer, librarian, naturalist, and educator. She discovered a telescopic comet in 1847, for which she was awarded a gold medal by the King of Denmark. Her discovery thrust her into the international spotlight and she became America’s first professional female astronomer.
Born to Quaker parents, William and Lydia (Coleman) Mitchell on Nantucket on August 1, 1818, Mitchell was an avid learner. The Quaker tradition taught that both boys and girls should be educated and Maria received an education at local schools and from her father’s schools and home tutoring. Her father was a great influence on her life; Maria developed her love of astronomy from his instruction on astronomy, mathematics, surveying and navigation. At age 12, Maria helped her father to calculate the position of their home by observing a solar eclipse. By 14, ship captains trusted her to rate their ships’ chronometers for their long whaling journeys. Maria pursued her love of learning as a young woman, becoming the Nantucket Atheneum’s first librarian. She and her father continued to acquire astronomical equipment and conduct observations, working for the US Coast Survey among other entities.
On October 1st, 1847, Maria was sweeping the sky from the roof of the Pacific Bank on Main Street, where her father was the head Cashier and where they lived as a result of his position. She spotted a small blurry object that did not appear on her charts. She had discovered a comet! After achieving her fame, Maria was widely sought after and went on to many notable accomplishments. She resigned her post at the Atheneum in 1856 to travel throughout the US and Europe. In 1865, she became Professor of Astronomy at the newly-founded Vassar College. She was a founder of the Association for the Advancement of Woman, the first woman member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and one of the first women members of the American Philosophical Society. Her position as the computer for the ephemeris of Venus for the US Nautical Almanac made her one of the first women to work for the US federal government.
Maria was an inspiration to her students. It was Vassar College that Maria felt was truly her home. She believed in learning by doing, and in the capacity of women to achieve what their male counterparts could. “Miss Mitchell” was beloved by her students whom she taught until her retirement, due to failing health, in 1888. She died in 1889, and was buried next to her parents in the family plot at Nantucket’s Prospect Hill Cemetery. – from the Maria Mitchell Association
