The Praire Observatory first opened in the 1960s and closed in the early 1980s. The observatory was once a place for astronomers from The University of Illinois to view the night sky far from bright city lights. Today, the building is covered with graffiti and overgrown vines. It looks more like something from a Hollywood postapocalyptic thriller than a place of science and research. The site can be accessed from a nearby parking lot or by following the scenic hiking trails from Walnut Point State Park….
