The event was the culmination of a four-year effort on the part of the local Florence Astronomy Club.

The group wanted a telescope that would provide public views of the sky that was accessible and did not require driving long distances.

Florence State College was interested in a planetarium and observatory and it was a natural alliance.

The planetarium building was constructed alongside the telescope dome, providing access to both facilities.

On January 7, 2008 Dr. Mel Blake was named Planetarium-Observatory director with a mandate to modernize and develop the programs.