Description: This image was taken from a collection of late 19th - early 20th century glass plate negatives, which are part of the Lick Observatory Archives. The University of California Observatories (UCO) is headquartered on the UC Santa Cruz campus and operates telescope and support facilities at the Lick Observatory on Mt Hamilton, just southeast of San Jose, CA.

This glass plate negative collection showcases both the observatory and the often rustic quality of life on Mount Hamilton in the early days of the observatory. During this time a sizable community thrived on the mountain as commuting to the valley below was inefficient and at times impossible.

The Lick Observatory Archives is just one of the many special archives housed in UCSC's Special Collections.

Photographer: unknown.