Historic Astronomical Society started by Dr. Wernher von Braun, his rocket team, and local citizens.  The core objectives of the society remain the same 50 plus years later:  public education, outreach, and research for amateur astronomers or anyone with an interest. The society maintains and operates two visual observatories, a white light solar telescope, library, and a planetarium all located in the Monte Sano State Park on top of Monte Sano mountain.  The site was originally selected for the elevation, and because it was at the time a remote dark site.  The limiting factor of what our society has to offer  is not the availability of high tech instruments, but the low tech light fixture that floods the sky with wasted light.