Press & Media Kit Blue Hill Observatory& Science Center America’s longest continuous weather record 140 years of unbroken atmospheric observation from the…
140 years of unbroken atmospheric observation from the summit of Great Blue Hill — a living scientific instrument and the only privately operated WMO Centennial Observing Station in the United States.
Blue Hill Observatory has maintained the longest continuous weather record in North America from a single location since 1885 — an unbroken daily dataset spanning more than 140 years from the summit of Great Blue Hill in Milton, Massachusetts.
As one of only 16 WMO Centennial Observing Stations in the United States — and the only privately operated one — BHO holds an irreplaceable position in climate science. Our data directly informs research, regional forecasting, and policy, and grows more essential with every passing year.
Beyond our scientific mission, Blue Hill Observatory serves as a living classroom and public gathering place. We engage over one million people each year through hands-on STEM education, public weather programming, and K–12 outreach that builds climate literacy in Greater Boston and beyond.
We are a nonprofit committed to protecting and extending this scientific heritage — while opening it to the next generation of researchers, educators, and curious citizens.
Some scientific records can be replicated. Ours cannot. When you look at 140 years of continuous data from the same hilltop, you are holding something genuinely irreplaceable — and increasingly urgent.
Alex Evans, Ph.D. · Executive DirectorBlue Hill Observatory operates at the intersection of atmospheric science, climate education, and community engagement. Our programs span K–12 classrooms, workforce development, and real-time public data.
Daily observations, instrument calibration, and stewardship of one of North America’s most cited long-term climate datasets. Freely shared with researchers worldwide.
Curriculum-aligned programs serving schools across Greater Boston. Hands-on weather, climate, and atmospheric science experiences grounded in our real observational record.
Public programming, summit tours, and real-time weather data connecting everyday people to the science of climate — measured right here in their region.
Initiatives training the next generation of atmospheric scientists — from student internships to professional development programs grounded in live data collection.
MIT graduate and future Harvard professor Abbott Lawrence Rotch establishes Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory — the first privately-funded research meteorological observatory in the United States. Daily observations begin.
Blue Hill Observatory records a wind speed of 186 mph during a major New England storm — one of the highest ever measured at the time and a landmark moment in American meteorological history.
Blue Hill Observatory becomes the longest continuously operating weather station in North America — surpassing a milestone unprecedented in the hemisphere’s meteorological history.
Operating as a nonprofit, Blue Hill Observatory expands its mission beyond observation into education, workforce development, and public climate literacy — anchored by 140+ years of irreplaceable data.
For climate stories
BHO data is a primary source for understanding long-term temperature trends, precipitation changes, and weather pattern shifts in the Northeast. Our record predates virtually every climate dataset cited in current research.
We can provide historical comparisons, trend data, and expert commentary for any story touching regional climate change, extreme weather events, or atmospheric science.
For education & science stories
Blue Hill Observatory is a rare example of an institution where history, science, and public engagement converge in one physical place. The summit itself is accessible, photogenic, and rich with story.
We offer on-site access for journalists, including interviews with scientific and education staff, summit visits, archival materials dating to 1885, and real-time instrumentation tours.
We welcome interview requests, site visits, data inquiries, and partnership conversations. Our team is responsive to deadline-driven requests.
Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center has maintained the longest continuous weather record in North America from a single location since 1885 — 140+ years of unbroken daily atmospheric observations from the summit of Great Blue Hill in Milton, Massachusetts. As one of only 16 WMO Centennial Observing Stations in the United States — and the only privately operated one — BHO serves as an irreplaceable resource for climate research, regional forecasting, and scientific education. A nonprofit institution, Blue Hill Observatory engages over one million people annually through K–12 STEM programs, public weather outreach, and workforce development initiatives that build climate literacy across Greater Boston. bluehill.org
Monthly Skymail, event announcements, and research summaries.
