Overview
- The Blue Hill Observatory on Great Blue Hill in Milton closed to the public Tuesday after an overnight vandalism incident that left several windows shattered.
- Video posted by the observatory shows visible broken glass in the tower and prompted staff to contact Massachusetts State Police through the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
- The site will remain closed Tuesday through Thursday for damage assessment and repairs and the observatory has said it expects to reopen on Friday after safety checks.
- Police have opened an investigation but declined to release further details while probes continue and local media flights over the site could not determine the full scope of damage.
- The observatory is a National Historic Landmark and the oldest continuously operating weather observatory in North America, so staff cite concerns about preservation, public safety, and the integrity of long-running climate records following the 2021 tower renovations.