The growth of Cleveland has changed its cityscape in many notable ways. One of the sadder effects of growth is that along the way, many pre-existing structures become obsolete and growth almost certainly leads to a bit of pollution. Both issues are one and the same when it comes to this one abandoned observatory in East Cleveland, and you won't believe how Mother Nature is reclaiming it.
The former Warner and Swasey Observatory sits in an unfortunate state of decay.
The building was gifted to the Case School of Applied Science back in 1919, when Cleveland was still fairly small.
This amazing structure was donated by Worcester R. Warner and Ambrose Swasey, trustees of the Warner and Swasey Company. The Warner and Swasey Company produced precision instruments on Carnegie Avenue at East 55th Street, and they wanted to feature one of their most beautiful creations at this observatory: a 9.5-inch refractor telescope.
The original building started as just a domed tower on Taylor Road, but it grew through its years of use.
For sixty years, it offered some of Cleveland's most adventurous residents an opportunity to visit the stars.
The original telescope was replaced in 1941 with a newer and more powerful model, but no matter its power, it could not combat Cleveland's growing population.
By 1950, Cleveland's population had grown to nearly 915,000, and light pollution became a major problem for studies conducted at the observatory.
At its height, this observatory had set out to prove that the Milky Way was a spiral galaxy. Similarly groundbreaking studies continued at the site throughout its history, but it became increasingly apparent that the site was no longer as valuable as it had once been.
The telescope was moved about 30 miles east, where studies continued from 1957 to 1979.
Eventually, the telescope was moved to Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
Meanwhile, the East Cleveland observatory was outfitted with a 36-inch telescope.
The public adored the opportunity to gaze into the heavens, and the observatory remained open for another two decades.
It finally closed its doors in 1980, ironically due to the same thing that had initially attracted Warner and Swasey to Cleveland: growth and expansion.
The building sat in decay, and its once impressive red brick and stone trimmings became a mere skeleton with shattered windows and rusted machinery.
In 2005, it seemed that the building might see a new life, but its doors were never opened to the public.
A real estate mogul purchased the site with the intention of turning it into a home, but he was jailed for a fraud conviction soon after. Though the community was momentarily optimistic about the old observatory's future, locals watched helplessly as the structure continued to fall to the effects of time.
And so it sits today, continuing to decay as Mother Nature makes it her own home.
This once proud structure is now a graffiti-covered shell, a sad reminder of how over-expansion changed our landscape.
Though vines try to mask the building's facade, they cannot hide its beauty. This stunning building offers a glimpse back in time to Cleveland's most populated decades, a time when its population boasted nearly 529,000 more people than it is currently home to. Though it is in an unfortunate state of decay, it speaks volumes about the moving power of Mother Nature.
Note: The Warner and Swasey Observatory is located on private property, and therefore closed to the public. Please respect the owners and do not visit without permission. Trespassing is a crime, and the decrepit state of the structure make unsafe to explore. Enjoy these photos instead!
Love this eerily beautiful abandoned site? You will adore this abandoned bridge to nowhere from Cleveland's Roaring Twenties.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
