Meyer Planetarium
The Robert R. Meyer Planetarium was a 90-seat specialty theater for teaching astronomy that opened on September 30, 1964 on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College. Built as a cost of $150,000, the planetarium was planned to take advantage of public interest in space exploration coinciding with NASA's Apollo program. It's establishment was supported by the Robert R. Meyer Foundation established by hotel executive Robert Meyer.
The theater hosted educational programs for students, grade-school groups, and the public. The planetarium used a Model A-3-P projector manufactured by Spitz Laboratories of Yorklyn, Delaware, enhanced with a stereophonic sound system.
Over the ensuing decades, the college did not invest in upgrading the planetarium's equipment or maintaining staff. Astronomer Bill Boardman and planetarium coordinator Roswitha Becker both retired in 2009. The college made the decision to permanently close the facility during its 2010 financial crisis.
The building was renovated in 2018 for use as a "GeoDome" to present programs developed by the Southern Environmental Center on Alabama's geography and biodiversity. After the college closed in 2024 the planetarium projector was auctioned off by Hanna Estate Services.
References
- Lovett, Dale (September 25, 1964) "Planetarium dedication to be Wednesday" Hilltop News. Vol. 27, No. 1, p. 1 - via archive.org
- "...to reach for the stars" editorial (October 16, 1964) Hilltop News. Vol. 27, No. 4, p. 2 - via archive.org
- "Planetarium At BSC Open To Visitors." (March 20, 1965) Birmingham Post-Herald, p. 8