This outstanding collection of surviving early 20th-century scientific buildings supported research across the country.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the designation of the Dominion Observatory Complex as a national historic site under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration. National historic designations illustrate the persons, places, and events that have marked history in Canada. Together, they tell the stories of who we are and connect us to our past, enriching our understanding of ourselves, each other, and this country.
Constructed between 1902 and 1954, the Dominion Observatory Complex is located within another national historic site, Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm, on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. It is a complex of distinctive buildings whose architecture conveys the federal government's forward-looking vision, at the turn of the century, to establish national scientific institutions in the capital. From 1905 to 1970, the Dominion Observatory Complex served as a major centre for Canadian scientific research in the field of practical astronomy and its application in the areas of surveying, time service, and geophysics. The complex also served as a site for outreach and education as researchers shared their passion for astronomy with the public through meetings of the Royal Astronomical Society, public lectures, guided tours, and Saturday evening stargazing events. Throughout its history, the research and experiments undertaken at the Dominion Observatory Complex were influential in the advancement of Canadian scientific excellence.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present.
