Today, the observatory primarily serves as a teaching tool; its mission is to interest the public in the fields of astronomy, science and engineering.

It was equipped with a 6-inch (150 mm) refracting telescope and was the site of E. E. Barnard's earliest astronomical work.

Barnard would eventually discover 16 comets and the fifth moon of Jupiter, receive the only honorary degree Vanderbilt has ever awarded, and have the on-campus observatory named in his honor.

[5] When Seyfert joined the university's faculty in 1946, he lobbied for increasing the astronomy department's modest course offerings and for a new observatory.

It was subsequently painted white in 1963, which significantly reduced the temperature of the dome and improved observations.