WILLIAMS BAY, Wis. — A historic observatory in Walworth County is finding a new purpose.

Yerkes Observatory was completed in 1897 by the University of Chicago and housed their astrophysics department for more than 120 years.

In 2018, the University of Chicago announced it would close the observatory, meaning the future was in jeopardy. However, a group of local investors stepped in to make it accessible to the public.

After a four-year closure and substantial restoration work, it will open to the public by early summer.

Walt Chadick serves as the Director of Programs for the observatory. Chadick said the observatory will serve a new purpose.

For more than a century, the historic observatory was mostly closed off to the public, but now events for everyday people will be the focus.

“For 120 years this was an active research facility that was studying the cosmos, so it never felt the footprint of visitorship,” Chadick said. “There is a lot of inspiration that our staff here takes in inviting the public into this space.”

Chadick said public events will include astronomy based events as well as other speakers and spaces that can be used for a variety of public and private events.

An exact reopening date has not yet been announced.

To learn more about future plans for the observatory, visit their website.