The Oil Region Astronomical Society started as an idea in March 1991 when a small group of people with a passion for astronomy decided to unite throughout northwest Pennsylvania.

These collected efforts led to the formation of the Venango County Astronomy Club, the predecessor of the Oil Region Astronomical Society.

Within a short time, the group acquired a lease from Venango County for a parcel of land and began building the observatory.

In 1993, the Oil Region Astronomical Observatory opened to the public and remained home to ORAS until January 2015 when the lease was terminated.

This article about a specific observatory, telescope or astronomical instrument in the United States is a stub.