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How a High-Altitude Observatory Shaped Colorado鈥檚 Story

How a High-Altitude Observatory Shaped Colorado鈥檚 Story

鈥淎 place can be understood as an earthly reality defined by longitude and latitude, with physical features to be detailed by geologists, geographers, and documentary photographers. At the same time, place is affective, defined by a series of experiences in time and their impact on those who linger.鈥 鈥 Hanna Rose Shell, Artist鈥檚 Statement

The 西瓜视频 strives for innovation, continually looking towards the future. But envisioning the future requires remembering the past. Colorado is home to numerous sites dedicated to scientific advancement鈥攂ut what were the origins of these places, and what can they teach us about our path forward?听

Hanna Rose Shell explores this question through the remarkable story of Walter Orr Roberts, drawing on her background in both historical scholarship with mixed-media artmaking. Shell is a professor in the College of Arts & Sciences, jointly appointed in the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts and the Department of Art & Art History, and recent faculty director of the Stan Brakhage Center for Media Arts.

In 2017, Shell moved to Colorado to teach at CU Boulder, where she was able to transition from a Social Sciences-oriented department at MIT, called Science, Technology and Society, to a new academic home more explicitly in line with her artistic and creative scholarly inclinations. Shell鈥檚 transition from Massachusetts to Colorado echoed that of the young astrophysicist who Shell has since made the center of her community-engaged and scholarly projects: Walter Orr Roberts.

Roberts, a graduate student, and his wife, Janet Smock, moved to Climax, Colorado in 1940 to establish North America鈥檚 first coronagraph鈥攁 specialized telescope used to study the sun鈥檚 gaseous halo. Built atop a vast molybdenite mine on the Continental Divide, the small observatory served as a hazardous but groundbreaking scientific base for seven years. During that time, Roberts not only conducted pioneering research on the solar corona but also contributed significantly to the World War II effort. His ionospheric observations enabled him to forecast solar disruptions days in advance, which proved crucial for maintaining radio communications. This achievement, alongside the mine鈥檚 role in weapon production with molybdenite, created an unlikely but powerful alliance: the miners of Climax and a Harvard scientist working together to support the Allied Powers. During his time in Climax, Roberts formed strong relationships with the miners, bridging the academic and industrial worlds.

鈥淭he kind of project that occurred at Climax in those years brought together so many different kinds of backgrounds, types of expertise and political leanings. It is an inspiring model for how we can find ways to engage with people from a wide range of stakeholders, with distinctive political ideologies,鈥 said Shell.听

Through extensive archival research in Colorado and Massachusetts, Shell became captivated by Roberts鈥 story. With support from the Office for Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship (PACES) and the Research and Innovation Office, she created a multimedia project that explores Roberts鈥 legacy while prompting reflection about themes such as nature and technology, innovation and destruction, communication and connection.

Shell鈥檚 PACES-supported work debuted in April 2025 during Boulder Art Week at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Mesa Laboratory鈥檚 Art-Science Gallery. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Flatirons, the exhibit featured photographs of the Climax observatory and mine alongside Shell鈥檚 contemplative reflections on Roberts鈥 achievements and the broader history of scientific exploration. The photos range from personal snapshots by Roberts or Smock, to photos of the observatory, to the actual photos Roberts took of the corona.听

Across these materials, the story of the Climax Observatory shines through in all its glory. In the exhibition, beside an archival photograph from the inside of the old Climax observatory, was a pensive statement from Shell: 鈥淔or me, both the historical legacy and present-day reality of the former site of the Climax Observatory exemplifies a kind of liminality: between darkness and light; between the reaches of the heavens and the depths of the earth; between the vital energies that prompt scientific discovery, and the potential hazards that accompany the human drive for material extraction.鈥

A woman points to a photograph that is projected onto a large screen in front of an audience.

Hanna Rose Shell presents her work at NCAR Mesa Lab, April 25, 2025.

On April 25, Shell presented her work at the Solar Nexus event, also held at NCAR鈥檚 Mesa Lab. Supported by her PACES grant, the event鈥ivestreamed for broader access鈥攂rought together researchers from diverse fields of solar science.

Shell discussed Roberts鈥 life and work, describing the challenges and triumphs he and Smock experienced. The talk featured photos, letters, and archival materials illustrating Roberts鈥 work and experiences. In a segment titled 鈥淐onversations of the Plurality of Worlds,鈥 an actress read Smock鈥檚 letters aloud, offering insights into the observatory and the mine and their influence on the surrounding environment. Shell concluded her presentation with a clip from a documentary filmed by Roberts, sharing his solar observations and reflections. The clip was composed of time-lapsed photographs of the corona halo stitched together to showcase the changes Roberts was tracking. Reflections about the future of solar research and nuclear power accompanied the corona visuals.听

The presentation was followed by Sarah Gibson, who presented current initiatives at the High-Altitude Observatory (HAO), and Alexandra Lockhart, a dancer who fuses heliophysics with performance art.

Shell鈥檚 interdisciplinary exploration of Roberts鈥 story integrates photography, film, music and letters to illuminate a compelling narrative. 鈥淥ne of my goals for the project is to bring this history to Boulder and to the world of atmospheric and environmental science,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t's so interesting that the seed of NCAR originated from this great collaboration between the biggest mine in the country, at the time, and a Harvard researcher.鈥

A central theme in Shell鈥檚 work is the idea of generative collaboration鈥攂etween disciplines, communities and even ideologies鈥攁nd how it shapes Colorado鈥檚 identity. Although the state has diversified beyond its mining roots, many towns still carry that legacy. For Shell, this community-engaged project offered an opportunity to 鈥渆ngage and learn about the history, geography and communities of Colorado,鈥 while connecting people across divides through a shared scientific heritage.

鈥淐U Boulder is located in one part of Colorado, so it鈥檚 very important to find ways to bring in the local community, and also people from other parts of the state,鈥 she said. 鈥淩oberts鈥 work inspires us to work together on a single interest, despite our differences.鈥

Shell hopes to bring her exhibit to other Colorado communities, such as Leadville. With its mining history and proximity to the Climax site, Leadville offers a perspective 鈥渇rom the mining extraction side,鈥 reconnecting Roberts鈥 work with the mining community and extending it beyond the academic community of Boulder.

鈥淭his can achieve a number of important things,鈥 Shell explained. 鈥淥ne is to spread the story. Two is to get people thinking about how their perspectives and histories are more connected to those of others鈥攑eople who may have different jobs, upbringings or political opinions. I really want this work to bridge the state, so to speak. I think that鈥檚 an exciting opportunity.鈥

Beyond its academic and public significance, the project resonates deeply with Shell on a personal level. Like Roberts, she left Massachusetts to pursue an academic career in Colorado. 鈥淚 felt a lot of connection to this young astronomer and his wife,鈥 she reflected. 鈥淩oberts came to Colorado from Massachusetts to build this observatory. He stayed here his whole life and became incredibly impactful to the state. He found direction, meaning and inspiration in a new place. That is what drew me鈥攁nd continues to keep me鈥攚ith this story. This project has become a wonderful way for me to connect with Colorado, as Roberts did.鈥

Looking ahead, Shell hopes her work will inspire Coloradans to transcend cultural and class boundaries in the name of collaboration and progress. Through visual storytelling, she encourages us to reflect on the 鈥渉istorical legacies鈥 and 鈥減resent-day realities鈥 of the places we inhabit. Her work challenges us to consider not only how scientific progress is achieved鈥攂ut by whom, and for what purpose.

To learn more about Shell鈥檚 project, or ."