The Octagon at Amherst College

The Octagon at Amherst College

The foundation thus laid by Andrew Lawrence will hereafter sustain the instruments of modern society to draw from the skies a knowledge of the stars - to demonstrate to men the Glory of God, and the magnificence of His works, - and to show to their wondering minds that "the thousand brilliant worlds which circle round Him, are governed by one law, and that in wisdom 'He has made them all'"

The Octagon at Amherst College was the first natural history museum and observatory on campus. Edward Hitchcock (President of Amherst College in 1845) hired Henry A Skyes to build it. It was intended to be unusual, with its elegant dome observatory and the collection of materials ranging from meteorites to animals and fossils.

Amherst College
Research	Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory
Campus	Amherst Center for Russian Culture Beneski Museum of Natural History Emily Dickinson Museum Mead Art Museum Pratt Field The Octagon
Athletics	Amherst Lord Jeffs football (The Biggest Little Game in America)
Student Life	Amherst College Glee Club PVTA & Five College buses Five College Consortium Sigma Delta Rho
People	Amherst College people
Media	The Common The Massachusetts Review WAMH
Miscellaneous	Five College Museums/Historic Deerfield Folger Shakespeare Library Five Colleges Book Depository Sabrina Statue Little Three

Coordinates: 42°22′17.1″N 72°31′8.7″W / 42.371417°N 72.519083°W / 42.371417; -72.519083