The Sunspot Astronomy and Visitor Center located at the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico was formally dedicated on 13 April 1998. The list of 150 attendees ranged from Rudy Cook, the first observer at the location in 1947, to US Representative Joseph Skeen, and included most of the people responsible for the successful completion of the Visitor Center. In conjunction with the dedication of the Visitor Center, a 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Sacramento Peak Observatory was held. Former employees and residents came from as far away as Florida, California, and Washington to honor the celebration. Solar observations from Sacramento Peak Observatory began in the summer of 1947 by Rudy Cook for Harvard College and the US.Air Force, and have carried forward to the present. The Visitor Center is open daily to host and educate Sunspot's visitors, and provide meeting space for educational and scientific purposes.
Rex Hunter