Hilltopper Heritage

Building History - Hardin Planetarium

Namesake - The planetarium was named for Hardin Cherry Thompson [1938-1963], son of President Kelly Thompson who died during his senior year at Western. Thompson, an Industrial Arts major, was active in the Arts and Craft Club, Scabbard and Blade, the Pershing Rifles and served as a College Heights Herald reporter.

History - Dedicated on October 13, 1967, the planetarium is seventy-two feet in diameter and 44 feet high, seats approximately 200 spectators in upholstered seats arranged in concentric circles with radical aisles. It contains a projection hemisphere room, display galleries and offices.["Planetarium One of Nine Western Structures Set for Dedication," Oct. 5, 1967]. The building was dedicated on Oct. 14, 1967.

Additions -

Sources -

College Heights Herald - 1966 October 13, p. 2
1967 October 14, p. 4; December 8, p. 14
1968 March 14, p. 10
1969 February 20, p. 11; July 11, p. 1; October 24, p. 2; November 4, p. 3
1970 March 6, p. 1; March 10, p. 1; March 17, p. 7; April 17, p. 7; July 14, p. 4; September 4, p. 1; October 2, p. 5; December 4, p. 2
1971 January 29, p. 2; February 23, p. 6; July 13, p. 2; September 10, p. 5; December 3, p. 8
1972 March 7, p. 7;
1974 April 12, p. 7; October 22, p. 2; November 12, p. 9; December 3, p. 7
1975 April 2, p. 7
1976 August 24, p. 3C; September 10, p. 7
1977 February 4, p. 3; August 23, p. 12
1978 January 19, p. 5; March 27, p. 5
1979 May 3, p. 3
1981 November 17, p. 14
1982 September 14, p. 16; December 2, p. 7
1984 September 18, p. 10; December 6, p. 6
1985 October 29, p. 16
1987 January 15, p. 1
1992 October 22, p. 13
1993 December 9, p. 2
1994 February 22, p. 13

Vertical File - available in Harrison-Baird Reading Room

Researched and written by Jenna Hawkins, 2008