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Yerkes Observatory Tours

4.7 (15 reviews)

Yerkes Observatory Tours Landmarks & Historical Buildings Photos

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Exterior
Lisa S.

What history! Einstein, Sagan, and Hubble all made significant contributions to the field while working at Yerkes. The building has been beautifully restored, and the individuals giving the tours are extremely knowledgeable and passionate. I'd love to come back for an opportunity to look through the massive telescope - that would be a memorable life experience.

Work continues on the renovations.
Steve G.

There's something very special about this place. I think it's the fact that the location dates back to the 1920s, yet the stuff that's going on there is almost science fiction. For most of the 20th century, the telescope here was one of the largest in the world. After some recent ownership changes, the new crew is hard at work, making this not only a research resource but also a community resource. Check out their website and become a member, or just come out for one of their public events, like the nights they have a ton of telescopes set up on their lawn for public viewing.

40 in (100 cm) refractor at the Yerkes Observatory

My wife and I booked the tour and were surprised at the cost at first. However, the tour was more then worth the price. There were some unbelievable documents and pieces of American history that one can see. The place is still under reconstruction, and while perhaps we didn't see all the completed exhibits that will exist one day, it felt more almost of a behind the scenes tour. 100% recommend, my wife and I have booked tickets with my folks to go back next week. If you are at all interested in the cosmos - you must go!

Pricing for an hour walk-thru...
Troy D.

Overpriced for locals and families. The place isn't a museum and has no planetarium, no installations of any science hands-on for kids. Not even an IMAX theater or singing Tesla coils. Yawn.

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

Here for a wedding. Absolutely stunning! Amazing preservation work and a amazing staff!

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Review Highlights - Yerkes Observatory Tours

Walt was phenomenal; hilarious, knowledgeable, charismatic, one of the best tour guides I've ever had.

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Downtown Lake Geneva

Downtown Lake Geneva

1.5(2 reviews)
6.3 mi

Hi.. my name is Dan and I was, at least up until today a huge fan of this town, promoted it to my…read morefriends have stayed at a number of the hotels over the years, but will NO LONGER give my patronage to a town that chooses on a weekend as busy as the snow carving festival to single out a IL plate to write a ticket for parking over the lines...... again very busy weekend and also right after a snow and cold snap reaching -24 actual temps. Now mind you that the car next to me with WI plates had no ticket and when I went to the police station with the pictures I took to try and plead my case I see a car parked way over the lines right in front of the police station but he had WI plates so I guess that means he gets a pass... just thought every one should know how the city of LAKE GENEVA WI treats the tourists who help keep the town going I will be sharing this post across all platforms as to ensure the largest number of people who can see this do...

Downtown Lake Geneva has really gone downhill from the old days. I grew up coming here, to Riviera…read moreBeach and to all the attractions around the lake. ALmost five decades of history for me, add my parent's generation and that takes our family back to the 1930s coming up here. Now, it's disgusting on weekends. People come up here and lay out picnic areas, they bring their own food and drink so they don't have to buy anything in town, then when they leave half of them don't even clean up their garbage. It's the height of ignorance and disrespect for the town, its people and our environment. The weekend crowd has turned the lakefront parks and beach into a big cess pool. The only thing they buy is gas because it's cheaper than in IL. I am from IL and believe me when I say, I wish they flatlanders who disrespect the environment would stay home. Better still go somewhere else entirely since I probably live closer to them than I care to in IL. Some of my earliest memories include Lake Geneva. Now, I'm sickened when I come here on a weekend and see slobs trashing the parks. I almost feel badly for the people with lake homes here, they start around $2M+ for a 2500 sq ft house on the lake with 60 ft frontage and they can't enjoy the town on the weekends b/c its overrun with the most undesirable lot!

Photos
Downtown Lake Geneva - February 7, 2007 with Rita Rinelli.

February 7, 2007 with Rita Rinelli.

Downtown Lake Geneva - Snow in March. Visiting from California. Love to come back here at Lake Geneva

Snow in March. Visiting from California. Love to come back here at Lake Geneva

Downtown Lake Geneva - Beautiful

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Beautiful

The Rockmen Guardians

The Rockmen Guardians

4.8(14 reviews)
33.4 mi

Located only about a mile away from Anderson Japanese Gardens, The Rockmen Guardians are a very…read moreunique but hard to find set of sculptures. Locations on different websites are a bit misleading, some directing you far away from the actual sculptures which are southwest of the Nicholas Conservatory along the Rick Rive Rec Bike Path. It's not too far from the Boys & Girls Club of Rockford, and you can park somewhat close to them but will still need to walk a bit. This is worth the adventure of discovering the spot though, as I'm not sure anything similar exists nearby. For me, as a big video game fan, these really gave me the feeling of being surrounded by giant stone warriors - except that you can take a picture with them. With the river in the background, you can get lots of beautiful pictures with them as a quartet, though you also want some closeups to get some of the finer details. Throughout the armor, there's definitely a mix of different colors and textures and these stand with a variety of different interesting poses. Overall worth a stop if you're in the Rockford area, but also worth a special trip to visit Rockford for other fun tourist opportunities as well, particularly during the warmer weather months.

The Rockmen Guardians statues is a fun thing to stop and see if you're in Rockford. Located along…read morethe Rock River, these statues are on the side of the Rock River Recreation Path. If you're going by car, the nearest street address is that of the Rockford Boys and Girls Club (1040 N 2nd St #1). Once you get there these 10 foot statues are impressive to see. This is a great photo opportunity. I highly recommend The Rockmen Guardians!

Photos
The Rockmen Guardians
The Rockmen Guardians
The Rockmen Guardians

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Yerkes Observatory Tours - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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