Drake Municipal Observatory, Waveland Golf Course at odds over lecture series

The Drake Municipal Observatory has helped the general public enjoy the wonders of space from Des Moines for more than a century. Throughout its existence, Drake astronomy professors have led the Public Nights Series, a Friday night lecture series for residents who have an interest in what's happening outside of Earth's stratosphere.

Recent conflicts with the golf course that houses the observatory could interrupt future plans for the series and for the observatory as a whole.

"My cause here is to keep this place going for another 100 years," said Herb Folsom, an astronomy professor at Drake for over 20 years and leader of the public event series. "It fills up every Friday night, and we've been doing that for over 100 years."

Public Nights Series traffic conflicts with Waveland Golf Course

The Public Nights Series holds lectures over three sessions each year: eight-week sessions in the spring and fall and a five-week session in the summer. The 2025 summer session runs June 13 to July 11.

Each event, which runs about an hour, includes a lecture, a tour of the observatory and a chance for attendees to look through the telescopes.

This year is the first time issues between the Waveland Golf Course and Drake Municipal Observatory have been reported.

The observatory, which was built as a joint project between the city and the university in 1922, sits between the seventh and eighth holes with a driveway that cuts through the course.

Its location isn't necessarily the problem, though, but more so the 8 p.m. start time of the event. The public event draws about 80 to 100 attendees, Folsom said, which creates traffic along the end of the course while golfers are finishing their rounds.

"The City of Des Moines, Drake University, and C-Corporation (Waveland Golf Course operator) collaboratively agreed on an access approach that prioritizes the highest level of safety for all who use Waveland," said a written statement from the city of Des Moines. "We appreciate their continued support in ensuring a safe and coordinated experience for everyone at Waveland Golf Course and surrounding access area."

Folsom agreed to move the event's start time back to 9:30 p.m. this summer to avoid any more problems. That decision, however, is a temporary one.

The start time isn't a problem during other seasons because it's already dark by 8 p.m., Folsom said.

"I don't want to fight that battle right now," Folsom said. "We've got to work something out before next summer because that 9:30 p.m. start time was just too late for most people."

Frustrations over start time lead to questions about observatory's future

Frequent attendees of the event are upset about the change to the start time.

A Facebook page that's not affiliated with the university has shared posts frustrated by the changes with attendees weighing in with comments.

Also on the Drake Municipal Observatory Facebook page is a picture of a sign someone put up in front of the Waveland Golf Course, accusing Waveland of wanting to "keep astronomy off the golf course."

Folsom knows the individual who put the sign up. It was taken down after a few days, but the city is unhappy about the displayed wording. The buildup of frustration between the two sides now has the future of the observatory in question.

"Up until these past couple of weeks, I didn't think it was [in jeopardy]," Folsom said. "I got an email from Drake facilities and they said the city was really upset with the wording of that sign. And he basically said in his email that this could impact the continued running of the observatory."

Despite this, Folsom said the level of concern is "minimal."

Some of the regulars have suggested alternatives for next summer to Folsom, including dropping the summer series and holding a winter one in its place or extending the length of spring and fall series.

What is the Drake Municipal Observatory?

The Drake Municipal Observatory is a university facility equipped with telescopes and other equipment needed to observe natural phenomena, specifically astronomical events.

Planted in the middle of the Waveland Golf Course, it allows a clear view of the sky needed for its 125-year-old Warner and Swasey Telescope to see out into the pitch black.

The observatory was designed by Frank E. Wetherell and built in 1922 with the partnership of Drake University and the city of Des Moines. The university provided the scientific instruments and staff, while the city supplied 0.23 acres of land and the funds to build the building.

Daniel Morehouse, an astronomy professor who later led the university, played a huge part in the observatory's development. He became the university president in 1922 and served until his passing in 1941. To honor his contributions, he and his wife, Myrtle, had their ashes stored within the walls of the observatory.

The Drake Municipal Building is the oldest observatory in the country, Folsom said. It will turn 103 years old in November.

Inside the building is a museum-like setup downstairs with pictures of comets and planets, equipment dating back nearly 100 years and a gift shop. The main level features a solar system floor meant to project the planets' exact point in the sky when the building was constructed and a lecture room used for the classes.

Upstairs is where the 125-year-old Warner and Swasey Telescope resides. It's paired with a shutter roof that slides open for the telescope to see into the sky. As it currently stands, the shutter was recently sealed shut and cannot be opened.

Folsom hopes the interior can be remodeled in the near future. The walls and wood-frame windows are all from the original build and have proven to be sturdy, though there are glaring cracks and plaster is coming off the walls.

Chris Meglio is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at [email protected] or on X @chris_meglio.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Drake Observatory's Public Nights Series at odds with golf course