Powell Observatory

It features several large telescopes and is available for public viewing,[1] for private use of Astronomical Society of Kansas City members, and for ongoing research projects.

The observatory, located in Lewis-Young Park just north of Louisburg, was built in 1984 by members of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City (ASKC).

In April 1983, Mr. Charles S. Douglas, who, at the time, was a relatively new member of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City wrote an earnest letter to the Marjorie Powell Allen of the Powell Family Foundation in hopes of obtaining a grant for $20,000 in order to build a new observatory on land leased to the organization by the City of Louisburg, Kansas in Lewis-Young Park.

Allen, remembering that her father, George E. Powell, who had established the family's foundation, Allen incrementally granted the organization their initial request which she generously expanded to nearly $48,000 to ensure the observatory would be equipped with restrooms and a computerized system for the extraordinary telescope built by the society's members which houses a nearly 30-inch mirror.

On many clear evenings and most weekends, ASKC members set up personal telescopes in Powell's courtyard and are available to give tours of the night sky and to answer questions.