Founded in December 1904 by George Ellery Hale as one of the original scientific enterprises of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Mt. Wilson Observatory has entered its second century as one of the world's great astronomical observatories. During the first half of the twentieth century Mt. Wilson dominated astronomy worldwide and was successively home to the world's two largest telescopes as well as the most powerful facilities in existence for studying the sun. The 60-inch and 100-inch night-time telescopes and the 60-ft and 150-ft solar tower telescopes in the hands of the brilliant scientists who used them revolutionized astronomy through such discoveries as:
In the twenty-first century, the Observatory hosts several of the most technologically advanced facilities in the world for studying astronomical objects with unprecedented resolution and clarity. The 100-inch Hooker telescope remains in active scientific service, and the solar towers are daily collecting data representing the world's longest continuous record of the sun.

Since 1986, Mt. Wilson Observatory has been operated under an agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington (CIW) by the Mount Wilson Institute (MWI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission focuses on scientific research, historic preservation, astronomical education and public outreach. Guest institutions operating facilities on the Observatory grounds include: the University of California, Berkeley; Georgia State University; the University of California, Los Angeles; and the University of Southern California.
View the Universe through Mount Wilson's historic 60-inch telescope, the largest in the world made exclusively available to the public. Celebrate your special occasion or indulge your interest in astronomy with a memorable and unique experience. Many great nights of observing are still available for the 2008 season.
Filming on Mount Wilson - Its unique facilities, scenic beauty and proximity to the filming capital of the world, make Mount Wilson Observatory an attractive location for filming of all types, from television commercials, to educational programs, to feature motion pictures. Inquiries from location managers are welcome.
"Journey to Palomar" - Todd and Robin Mason's wonderful film about George Ellery Hale and his quest for ever-larger telescopes will air nationally on PBS stations November 10, 2008. The PBS promotional video is available here.