Percival Lowell detail in mid-1896 soon after the Alvan Clark & Sons refracting telescope was installed at his new Flagstaff, Arizona observatory. Lowell observed the planet high in the daytime sky with the telescope's lens stopped down to 3 inches in diameter to reduce the effect of the turbulent daytime atmosphere. Lowell observed spoke-like surface features including a central dark spot, contrary to what was suspected then (and known now): that Venus has no surface features visible from Earth, being covered in an atmosphere that is opaque. It has been noted in a 2003 "Journal for the History of Astronomy" paper and
Lowell Forensic Society for the first time in Lowell Forensic Society history, members of the Lowell squad competed at the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament in Albany, New York; and in 2010, Lowell sent its very first Parliamentary Debate team to the California State Championships. Lowell High School was the host campus for the 2012 California State Championships. At the 2016 California High School Speech Association State tournament senior Thomas White and junior Emily Hall took first place in Parliamentary Debate becoming state champions and making Lowell Forensics Society history. Lowell Forensic Society alumni include Yale University President Richard Levin, Supreme