Observatory Hill and Veterinary Medicine Pet Path

In 2007, the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine collaborated with Capital Planning and Development and the Arboretum Committee to designate a hilltop in the central WSU campus as a green space with a path for people walking pets. Adjacent to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, the site has long been useful for hospital staff and others who walk dogs and other animals near the veterinary clinic to give them exercise.

At the request of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, this area, once used to pasture a few animals, such as horses or lamas, was instead converted to a campus green space. The walking path cuts up the side of the hill, informally known as Observatory Hill, because the Jewett Observatory, dedicated in 1953, sits prominently on the ridge. The James Richard Jewett Observatory has the second largest refracting telescope in Washington and was made from the original lens polished in 1887-1889.

A walking path, additional trees and shrubs, and other horticultural exhibits will be designed to enhance the Observatory Hill site and make it a popular attraction for visitors who want to exercise their pets and obtain a picturesque view of the central WSU campus in Pullman. If you would like to contribute to the development of this central campus feature of the WSU Arboretum & Wildlife Conservation Center, please contact us.