Opened in 1973, the Goldendale Observatory serves to provide a space to educate the public about the wonders of astronomy. Free to visit aside from parking, the Observatory features a variety of ways to engage both kids and adults about our sun and moon, the planets, and cosmic bodies beyond our solar system.

The observatory hosts a 1-2 hour afternoon show in its auditorium centered around the features of the sun, and a 1-3 hour evening show outside that allows visitors to ask experts about the stars while viewing space objects through the eyepiece of one of the world’s largest public telescopes. The observatory is the crown jewel of the city of Goldendale, and thanks to its location away from light pollution, it is one of the greatest places in the United States to view the stars.