It is named for Humphrey B. Chamberlin, a Denver real estate magnate who pledged $50,000 in 1888 to build and equip the facility.

It was modeled after the Goodsell Observatory at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and constructed from rusticated red sandstone blocks.

The 20-inch objective lens for the observatory's main refracting telescope was made by Alvan Clark & Sons, and the mount was built by George Nicholas Saegmuller.

The mount rests on a cast iron pillar which is in turn supported by a massive stone pier.

[4] As it is located in a large metropolitan area, the observatory is heavily affected by light pollution, which limits its use in scientific research.