Solingen Observatory

The Solingen Observatory was one of the oldest public observatories in Germany. It was located in the Solingen district of Wald and was closed in April 2018.

In 1918, the Solingen teacher Walter Horn held astronomy courses for the first time at the newly founded adult education center. Due to the significant interest, an astronomical association was formed in 1921 from the listeners around the study council, which planned the establishment of an observatory. In 1924, in the midst of the global economic crisis, a suitable plot of land was purchased from the then city of Ohligs for a symbolic price. The astronomically high property tax of 1.18 trillion marks, which was due to inflation at the time, was waived for the association due to its insignificance. The construction costs were financed through membership fees and donations in the form of cigars, the only stable currency at that time. The observatory was ceremoniously opened on October 5, 1924.

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