Mount Wilson Observatory Virtual Tour
Monastery
The Monastery is a dormitory for Observatory staff and visiting scientists. It is situated at the end of a peninsula with sharp drop-offs on three sides. Built in the shape of an inverted "J", its long wing has 14 rooms separated into "day" and "night" sections for visitors working on either solar or nighttime projects. The rest of the building includes cook's quarters, dining room and a combination library/living area. The original Monastery was destroyed by fire in 1907, a new one being built soon after. South of the Monastery building are the remains of a solar telescope built by the Smithsonian Observatory.
