Lowell Observatory was first established in 1894, on Mars Hill overlooking downtown Flagstaff.  After narrowing down his search of possible locations for his observatory,  Bostonian astronomer Percival Lowell chose Flagstaff  for its clear skies, high altitude and clean air.

     The initial telescopes brought in by Lowell were a 12-inch refractor telescope which was leased from Harvard University, and an 18-inch refractor telescope borrowed from John Brashear.  In 1896, these instruments were replaced the 24-inch Clark refractor telescope (purchased for $20,000) which was brought into Flagstaff by train and still in use today for public viewing and education.

     Percival Lowell was a strong proponent of the presence of 'canals' on the surface of Mars, which he perceived of being evidence of technically-advanced life on the red planet.  Before his death in 1916, Lowell spent considerable time studying Mars and made detailed drawings of what he saw.  He published three books on the planet, describing 'non-natural features,' which captured the imagination of the public but raised skepticism with the astronomical society.  The theory of canals on Mars wasn't actually disproved until Mariner 4 was able to visit and photograph the planet in 1965, where they have clear evidence of natural erosion.