Old Naval Observatory
23rd and E Sts., NW, Washington, DCBetween 1844 and 1861, the Naval Observatory, under the leadership of Matthew Fontaine Maury, became widely known as a world center for advances in oceanography and navigational information. As the father of modern oceanography, Maury made his greatest contributions to science during these years.
The U.S. Naval Observatory evolved from the Depot of Charts and Instruments, which was established by the Secretary of the Navy in 1830 to maintain and check the accuracy of nautical instruments, charts, and books. In September 1838, the Depot began to conduct continuous astronomical observations, and thus laid the foundation for the permanent establishment of a naval observatory.
Shortly after Lt. Matthew Fontaine Maury became Superintendent of the Depot in July 1842, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Navy to contract for a suitable building, at a cost not to exceed $25,000. Although an astronomical observatory was not mentioned in the act, the site on the hill at 23rd and E Streets, NW., and the plans for the structure, were selected with such a function in mind. With the construction of the Naval Observatory, the Federal Government entered into practical scientific research in an important way.
Matthew Fontaine Maury had become a naval astronomer and published A New Theoretical and Practical Treatise on Navigation in 1836. As Superintendent of the Depot, his work on winds and currents, extremely important in the days of sailing ships, led to the issue of Wind and Current Charts and Sailing Directions in 1847. In 1853, Maury represented the United States at an international congress in Brussels and convinced the participating nations to adopt this uniform system for recording oceanographic data.
In 1854, Me Depot became the United States Naval Observatory and Hydrographical Office. The following year Maury published The Physical Geography other on Sear, the first textbook of modern oceanography. His association with the Naval Observatory ended on April 20, 1861, when he resigned to follow his native Virginia into the Confederacy.
Maury's contributions to oceanography and navigation were recognized during his lifetime, and are still recalled. The Navy Oceanographic Office charts still mention their debt to this man. The simple brick observatory building, enlarged since Maury's day, now provides offices for the Potomac Annex of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Local significance of the building:
The U.S. Naval Observatory evolved from the Depot of Charts and Instruments, which was established by the Secretary of the Navy in 1830 to maintain and check the accuracy of nautical instruments, charts, and books. In September 1838, the Depot began to conduct continuous astronomical observations, and thus laid the foundation for the permanent establishment of a naval observatory.
Shortly after Lt. Matthew Fontaine Maury became Superintendent of the Depot in July 1842, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Navy to contract for a suitable building, at a cost not to exceed $25,000. Although an astronomical observatory was not mentioned in the act, the site on the hill at 23rd and E Streets, NW., and the plans for the structure, were selected with such a function in mind. With the construction of the Naval Observatory, the Federal Government entered into practical scientific research in an important way.
Matthew Fontaine Maury had become a naval astronomer and published A New Theoretical and Practical Treatise on Navigation in 1836. As Superintendent of the Depot, his work on winds and currents, extremely important in the days of sailing ships, led to the issue of Wind and Current Charts and Sailing Directions in 1847. In 1853, Maury represented the United States at an international congress in Brussels and convinced the participating nations to adopt this uniform system for recording oceanographic data.
In 1854, Me Depot became the United States Naval Observatory and Hydrographical Office. The following year Maury published The Physical Geography other on Sear, the first textbook of modern oceanography. His association with the Naval Observatory ended on April 20, 1861, when he resigned to follow his native Virginia into the Confederacy.
Maury's contributions to oceanography and navigation were recognized during his lifetime, and are still recalled. The Navy Oceanographic Office charts still mention their debt to this man. The simple brick observatory building, enlarged since Maury's day, now provides offices for the Potomac Annex of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Military; Science
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The District was the site of one of the first major race riots in U.S. history: The Washington, D.C. race riot of 1919 was sparked by tensions between white and black residents and lasted for several days. It resulted in 15 deaths and over 100 injuries.