Author: Emil M. Quatchak
From: Emil M. Quatchak
Subject : The Buhl Science Center
Date : Mon, 27 Aug 2001 14:26:18 -0400
To the Board of Directors of the Allegheny Regional Asset District:
Both the Pittsburgh Children's Museum and the former Buhl Science Center
are assets to this region. The unique nature of the old science center
building, including the Zeiss projector and the Siderostat telescope, is
worth preserving. They remind us of a time when a flight to the moon
was equated with a flight of fantasy, but the visions and ideas sparked
in the minds of visitors to the science center helped make this a
reality. There is something about these devices that cannot be entirely
duplicated by more modern projectors and telescopes, which use video
cameras and projectors.
Where else can one experience the awe and grandeur of the massive Zeiss
projector rising on its elevator to project the heavens on a huge dome?
Nothing else makes the solar system more real or us more insignificant
than looking at the stars firsthand through a real telescope and the
best viewing conditions are usually the coldest. Only the Siderostat
allows people to view celestial bodies in comfort. Both of these
instruments are still in working order.
A decade ago the success of the science center required it to move its
activities to a new location and unfortunately the building with the
Siderostat telescope and Zeiss planetarium projector now sits empty. I
am pleased and excited to see the success of the Children's Museum has
created a need for expansion and that they will be utilizing the old
science center building for this expansion. I am disappointed that
current plans do not include either the telescope or the planetarium
projector.
It would seem that the goals of expanding the Pittsburgh Children's
Museum and preserving the old science center building along with these
two instruments are not mutually exclusive and a middle ground can be
found. I encourage members of the Allegheny Regional Asset District to
help effect a reasonable compromise that preserves these historical
instruments to engender the awe and wonder of the universe in generations to come.
Sincerely,
Emil M. Quatchak
Pittsburgh, PA 15202