Fort Scott in Bourbon County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Measuring the Sky
Henrietta Swan Levitt (1868-1921)
| — | Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes | — |
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
1. Measuring the Sky Marker
How can we know the distance between objects in the universe when these immense distances can't be traveled? Unsung Hero Henrietta Swan Leavitt's pioneering work greatly impacted the ability to determine distance in space.
Signposts in the Universe
Cepheid variable stars pulse in a predictable way. Leavitt's remarkable eye for detail led her to notice that the brighter stars had a longer period, or the time it took them to change from brighter to dimmer. This understanding allowed her to see how those stars could be used as distance markers to other objects.
A Fascination With Space
Henrietta Swan Leavitt's lifelong love of the stars led her to a job at Harvard College Observatory. She was employed as a "computer," a low-status job reserved for women. Not letting that status discourage her, Henrietta studied thousands of photographic plates of stars, making her a role model of perseverance and determination.
Project Phaedra: Continuing the Work of Forgotten "Computers"
People like you can help uncover the work of unsung heroes like Henrietta Swan Levitt. Project Phaedra is currently working to transcribe the
this page online
Henrietta Swan Leavitt's Legacy
Leavitt's impactful discovery enabled astronomers to determine the distances between objects in the universe. For example, Edwin Hubble was able to calculate the distance to the Andromeda Galaxy.
Photo captions:
-Leavitt discovered 2,400 stars before her early death in 1921.
-The Harvard College Observatory in 1892, Henrietta , classifying stellar spectra.
-"Computers" at Harvard College Observatory, 1918. Their job - to survey the entire night sky! Can you find Henrietta Swan Leavitt?
Erected by Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Science & Medicine • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1921.
Location. 37° 50.49′ N, 94° 42.362′ W. Marker is in Fort Scott, Kansas, in Bourbon County. It can be reached from South Main Street south of East Wall Street. Marker is located in the courtyard behind the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 S
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
2. Measuring the Sky Marker
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas and specifically in Bleeding Kansas Border War Country. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ashes on the Moon (here, next to this marker); Jurassic Mary (a few steps from this marker); True Renaissance Man (a few steps from this marker); The Man Who Saved a Billion Lives (a few steps from this marker); The Father of Modern Education (a few steps from this marker); WWII Navajo Code Talker (a few steps from this marker); The Unbreakable Code (a few steps from this marker); Rising Against All Odds (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Scott.
Also see . . .
1. Henrietta Swan Leavitt on Wikipedia. (Submitted on October 21, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (official website).
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
3. Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 21, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
