The United States Naval Observatory, or USNO, was one of the first scientific agencies established in the United States. In 1830, this body was established as the Depot of Charts and Instruments, and in 1842 it was made into a national observatory by a federal act. President John Quincy Adams had signed the bill creating the national observatory before leaving office. An avid astronomer himself, Adams spent significant time at the observatory watching and charting the stars.
Astronomer and U.S. Navy officer, James Melville Gilliss was put in charge of the observatory. At the time it was built in Foggy Bottom near the Lincoln Memorial, and it was one of few observatories in an urban area. However, at the time it was far from the light pollution that was created by the city center.
Navy Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury was the first superintendent of the Observatory, and he kept accurate time by charting the stars and planets. Accurate time was “broadcast” by raising a flag mechanically. Through the use of the telegraph, time was kept not only for the nation’s capital, but also for every state in the union. Combined with the use of railroad chronometers, the official time was used to schedule rail transport, and by the early 20th century, the Arlington Time Signal broadcast the service to wireless receivers. The USNO still serves as the official source of time for the U.S. Defense Department and the standard of time for the rest of the U.S. as well.
click to enlarge
