South Hill Park

South Hill Park is between 6th, 7th, Aetna and Elm streets. South Hill was the second public square marked on the original survey. Near the corner of Elm and 7th, is a Boulder Monument marking a solar eclipse event viewed here on August 7, 1869. Many well-known scientists from all over the globe gathered in Burlington for this event. The Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, in conjunction with Professor J.H.C. Coffin of the U.S. Navy set up headquarters here to photograph the eclipse. Southeast Iowa was determined to be the ideal picture-taking point. Small scientific parties were sent to Mount Pleasant, Ottumwa and Oskaloosa. A carload of apparatus shipped from Philadelphia included two Munich equatorial telescopes with six-inch apertures that were geared to move with the sun, plus other telescopes and cameras. The “distinguished astronomers” were officially welcomed here by the City Council.