Meteor Crater Observatory um 1930

Harry and Hope Locke built this observatory in the mid 1930's. The crater was still privately owned by Barringer's Standard Mine Company and tourists weren't welcome. The Locke's hoped that the close proximity to the crater and Route 66 would attract travelers. The observatory closed in a short time due to huge construction dept and a lack of visitors. It was reopened for a while by Harvey Nininger and attracted over 30,000 visitors in the first year. The business suffered with with the realignment of Route 66 and it closed in 1953.