An observatory is a place for observing, or studying, natural objects and events on Earth or in space. An astronomical observatory is a place to observe space. Scientists use this type of observatory to gather information about stars, planets, comets, and other things outside Earthâs atmosphere.
The early 1850âs were marked in national history as a period of great unrest, for these were the pre-Civil-war days with slavery a raging issue. However, this was a period of tremendous growth in the Territory of Minnesota and in Stillwater. The city was granted its charter in 1854 with John McKusick as first mayor.
The town is real, and the scenes in the episode were modeled after Bellisario's hometown of Cokeburg, although they are actually 250 miles apart. His father, Jackson Gibbs (played by Ralph Waite), owned and ran the Stillwater General Store. He is named after his father's close friend and partner in the store, Leroy Jethro LJ Moore, after they worked together in the coal mines (Winslow Mining Company).