Friends of the Zeiss Statement of

P.O. Box 1041 Glenn A. Walsh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-1041 U.S.A. Before the

Telephone: 412-561-7876 Allegheny Regional

Electronic Mail: < friendsofthezeiss@planetarium.cc > Asset District:

Internet Web Site: < http://www.friendsofthezeiss.org > 2006 March 27

Good evening, I am Glenn A. Walsh of 633 Royce Avenue, Mount Lebanon, Project Director of Friends of the Zeiss.

In October of 2002, The Carnegie Science Center dismantled three historic artifacts at the original Buhl Planetarium: Zeiss II Planetarium Projector, the oldest operable major planetarium projector in the world; 10-inch Siderostat-type Refractor Telescope, the second largest of its rather unique type operating; and the large Mercator’s Projection Map of the World, which was considered the world’s largest such map when installed at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York.

At the time of the dismantling, The Carnegie Science Center promised the City of Pittsburgh, owner of the artifacts, that the Zeiss Projector and Mercator’s Map would be reassembled in the Science Center by the end of 2005—although the Zeiss Projector would only be a partially-activated exhibit. The Siderostat Telescope would be reassembled following the construction of the proposed $90 million Science Center expansion project.

The Science Center’s expansion project was cancelled in May of 2003. Consequently, Science Center officials said that there would be a one-year “delay” in the reassembly of the Zeiss Projector. At that time, there was no mention of any reassembly of either the Siderostat Telescope or the Mercator’s Map.

The reassembly of the Zeiss Projector had been planned for the second floor, near the current planetarium entrance. Yet, without a Science Center expansion, this reassembly would take space away from the Science Center’s traveling exhibits gallery—which is important for both attracting new visitors and repeat business.

So, I strongly doubt that the Science Center will sacrifice traveling exhibit space for the Zeiss Projector, which they consider only to be an “antique artifact.” At the end of this year, I expect the Science Center will announce another “delay” in the reassembly of the Zeiss Projector; these “delays” will probably continue for many years.

The Zeiss Projector, Siderostat Telescope, and Mercator’s Map belong in a location where they can truly be used to teach Science to children. As the original Buhl Planetarium building was custom-built for the Zeiss Projector and the Siderostat Telescope, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is the only place where these artifacts could actually be used to teach children.

Again, I ask that you use your influence to have these three artifacts returned to the original Buhl Planetarium building. Otherwise, they will continue in warehouse storage, collecting dust, educating no one!

Thank you.

gaw

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