This Cache is part of the Helena, Montana GeoExoeditionMT. The GeoExpeditionMT spans the scenic Helena area from the heights of MacDonald Pass, through historic downtown gulch then south to Boulder and the Elkhorn Ghost Town. Discover all the treasures of Montana’s Capital City. Hotel packages just for Geocachers can be found at www.helenamt.com.
Although this cache is located at the Neuman Observatory, take a little time to walk through the Carroll College campus. You will discover "hidden" grottos, sculptures, and some incredible stained glass art made by a former professor Dr. Father Dan Hillen.
A BIT OF HISTORY:
THE COLLEGE-- The cornerstone of nearby Saint Charles Hall was laid Sept. 27, 1909. United States President William Howard Taft, Senator Thomas Carter and many other local dignitaries were in attendance for this momentous occasion. At that time, no official name had been chosen for the new college. The earliest blueprints carried the name "St. James College". During the cornerstone ceremonies Bishop John Patrick Carroll opened his speech by saying " Mr. President, we have laid the cornerstone of Capitol Hill College." (Taking the name of the hill on which the college was built). But, in the summer of 1910, just before the first students were to arrive, Bishop Carroll decided to honor a past archbishop of Milan, St. Charles Borromeo, who at the Council of Trent (1545-1563) first put forth the idea of establishing Catholic colleges that were to be sponsored by their respective dioceses. Because this new college was in fact, a diocesan college that also happened to be located on an imposing promontory, it seemed only fitting that the school be named Mount Saint Charles College. In 1932, in order to recognize the roll that John Patrick Carroll had played in making the school's very existence possible, the board of trustees voted to change the name to Carroll College.
THE NEUMAN OBSERVATORY-- On the days of October 12, 18, and 31, 1935 a series of earthquakes rattled the Helena area. Although Saint Charles Hall sustained damage, the building was found to be fundamentally sound. In 1937, under the direction of a Dr. Neuman, rocks that had fallen from St. Charles Hall and it's attached South Hall would be transformed into this astronomical observatory. Housing a telescope built by Dr. Neuman's students, it would serve his astronomy classes and was even featured on the cover of Sky and Telescope magazine in July 1946. In 1977, this domed structure was renamed the Neuman Observatory in his honor. A newer telescope was purchased and installed by the Carroll Neuman Astronomical Society in more recent years. It continues to serve Carroll astronomy classes and visiting members of the curious public. A sign on the door announces the next day and time it will be open.
THE CACHE:
We were given permission to place this regular sized cache here, at the Neuman Observatory, by Carroll College staff. It should be a very easy to find container so the area in which it is hidden should not be damaged in any way by visitors and seekers. PLEASE re-hide in a manner as to not be seen by the passing students, but easy for the next Geocacher to locate. The groundskeeper is aware of this cache and will not remove it unless he feels the area is being damaged.