Thsi was the best part of my Lake Geneva trip! The building itself if full of life, beautiful architectural intricacies, and just has a whimsy to it. Our tour guide was fabulous, and the information we got was super fascinating. It is a one of a kind experience and is hands-on at some points, which is something I haven't seen before. I would certainly go back here and recommend it to anyone in the area!

Still the Best tour! On a scale if 1-5 it is a 15. See it while you can! Beautiful architecture. Lots of fun history, art and science. Entertaining, interesting, behind the scenes info. A restoration in progress - place worthy of support. They now have a gift shop so stop by to get your Yerkes swag! Buy your tickets ahead because they do sell out.

This was such an interesting place. To stand were Albert Einstein once stood was surreal. It was truly a step back in time. Stunningly beautiful. It was history in 3D. Highly recommend for adults that have any interest in astronomy and/or history. Incredible - you will NOT be disappointed.

Recently reopened, knowledgeable tour guides for a fascinating piece of local history. Looking forward to when the telescopes are in use for public viewings (estimated spring 2024). Fun partnership with local artists for the tallest glass Christmas tree.

Really enjoyed our time here today. The tour was incredible and very informative. Lots of history in this place and you can feel it from the moment you step on the grounds. Will be coming back for observation nights in the future. Highly Recommend!

My husband and I were in Lake Geneva, looking for things to do. We have an average level of interest in astronomy and history, and we bought tickets to the Yerkes Observatory on a whim. The tour was FANTASTIC -- worth every cent. Walt was our tour guide and he was exceedingly knowledgeable, very passionate about all that is going on at Yerkes Observatory, and super fun. Restoration is ongoing, and it sounds like they are working on developing new programming as well. There's a lot of important and exciting work happening -- we can't wait to come back!

The ticket for the tour is $38 per person. I thought it was a little bit pricy but I was wrong. It was total worth it each penny, and it was a unique experience. The guide was great and full of knowledge. Outstanding architecture and wonderful bits of info about those who've been there over the years. Fascinating history!

My boyfriend and I went on the space and spaces tour, and it was our favorite experience in the Lake Geneva area. The tour guides are really informative, and was full of niche information. It felt like it was curated to our interests, rather than just a bunch of baseline information. The building is a work of art in itself, and is a standing monument to scientific history. I will be going again, especially when the renovation is complete.

Very impressive observatory! We did a guided tour and learned a lot about the history of Yerkes. The tour included a look at the massive telescope. It was cool to learn about how astronomers and noted scientists interacted with Yerkes.

Talk about a gorgeous building, on an amazing site, with the largest telescope anywhere! Took the mini-tour. It was only 30 minutes, but worth it. They have a 33' spun glass Christmas tree out front. Go see it when it lights up on tge 17th.

We were unable to get tour tickets for the dates we were in the area, but visited the grounds. We had a great time exploring the exterior of the building and it's historic architecture. We did not finish the grounds trail due to extreme weather. I would go back again to experience the indoor tours.

I've wanted to visit Yerkes for years and it definitely did not disappoint. Our guides were very knowledgeable and their passion made the evening even more enjoyable. We were able to look through the 24" telescope and see several objects but seeing Saturn was amazing. Can't wait to go back once the largest telescope is ready to look through.

We simply stopped by to admire the observatory 🔭 from the outside - a bit too cloudy and hazy. This is a stunning building. The architecture is beautiful and the details are something to see - truly don’t make them like this anymore. We were also entertained by a large flock of turkeys that was joined for dinner by a good sized doe.

One of the most significant scientific locations of our history. Recently restored from founding in 1897 and is a MUST tour when in Lake Geneva or Lake Delavan area. Beautiful and Historic.

We had an amazing and informative tour guide for a 2 hour tour of the observatory. Lots of familiar names in the field of astronomy had visited,worked or lived at the Yerkes Observatory. The detail in the architecture of the building is out of this world.

Wonderful tour, Guide Walt was outstanding. The Refractor was incredible. A real Big Bang experience!! A must for Astronomy buffs!!

Yerkes is a must-see when you are in the area. The architecture, building, and the grounds are extraordinary. Plan to get tickets in advance and stay on the lookout for special events that pop up from time to time.

Stunning restoration and energetic and inspiring tour by a scientist on the Space and Spaces tour. To marvel at the origins of modern astrophysics and think how far we have come in 120 years is humbling and rewarding. Don't miss a chance to visit Yerkes! Advance tickets required. Yerkes also hosts lectures and other events throughout the month, including at the arboretum on site.

I am so glad they opened up again and are restoring the building. My 15, 12 and 11 year old kids loved the tour. My daughter even got to push the button to make the observatory deck go down. I'm excited to see what they offer in 2023. Keep up the great work!

Williams Bay,Wisconsin has been host to this fabulous building for over 125 years..garnering many firsts in astronomy;the 40 inch telescope is a wonder to behold..Carl Sagan,Einstein and Edwin Hubble were just some of the giants of science to grace these halls.You can almost feel their presence as you walk these halls....For a pleasurable experience; come and visit this institution dedicated to space exploration

Incredible architectual details at this historic site. Under renovation when we attended, I wish the new owners much success in reviving this priceless landmark. Worth looking up the history of the world’s largest refractor telescope. The birthplace of modern astrophysics.

What an amazing tour, and the rich history of astronomy, astro physics, architecture, scientists, is very well presented. The restorations that have been completed are amazing, I can't wait to see the next steps!! Really worth the trip and tour, help support this amazing organization!

Beautiful building, amazing history, and one of the best tour guides I’ve ever had. The restoration work they’ve done is gorgeous. I highly recommend this to anyone who lives in or is visiting the area!