An Ann Arbor museum is hoping to inspire the future with a piece of the past. The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum says it's restoring a 1926 refractor telescope used for decades at the University of Michigan observatory.
The roughly 14-foot long telescope is being provided by the university under a long-term lease. Museum officials say restoring the telescope and making other lobby improvements will take about two years. The project is possible because of a $200,000 gift from local entrepreneur Fred Collin.
Collin says it's critical for the museum and the "community to awaken curiosity, stimulate exploration, and encourage a lifelong appreciation for science in all its forms."