Bethel Methodist Cemetery in Lewes in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Transit of Venus Observatory

Photographed by Laura Edwards, July 8, 2023

1. Transit of Venus Observatory Marker

Inscription. In 1769, an international scientific effort was organized to observe a transit of Venus in order to determine the size of the solar system. This rare event, when Venus passes in front of the Sun's disk, makes such calculations possible when measured from widely separated sites. The American Philosophical Society sent Owen Biddle and Joel Bailey to Lewes from Philadelphia to establish a temporary astronomical observatory to record the transit on June 3, 1769. Their observations, combined with measurements from other astronomers, placed Lewes in the forefront of 18th century astronomy. The observatory was located near this site.

Erected 2015 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number SC-252.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Colonial Era • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 3, 1769.

Location. 38° 46.185′ N, 75° 8.65′ W. Marker is in Lewes, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Bethel Methodist Cemetery. It is on Savannah Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Savannah Road, Lewes DE 19958, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Delaware’s Beaches.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Beebe Hospital (about 700 feet away,

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measured in a direct line); Lewes (approx. 0.2 miles away); Beebe Medical Foundation (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1917 Pennsylvania Railroad Caboose (approx. ¼ mile away); Block House Pond (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lewes Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Legacy of Ted Freeman (approx. 0.4 miles away); World Wars I and II Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewes.

Transit of Venus Observatory Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, May 13, 2025

2. Transit of Venus Observatory Marker - wide view

Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2023, by Laura Edwards of Bethesda, Maryland. This page has been viewed 827 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 16, 2023, by Laura Edwards of Bethesda, Maryland. 2. submitted on May 13, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.