Amateur astronomers and star gazers gathered around the world in the predawn hours of June 8th, 2004 to observe a rare phenomenon, the "Transit of Venus" across the face of the sun. The last time that the planet Venus made this trek was in 1882.
Though not as spectacular a display as a comet's fiery tail, or as impressive as a meteor shower, the slow progression of Venus between the earth and the sun is still a rare enough occurrence to be of interest to modern day astronomers. Back in 1882 it was an extraordinary occurrence. One that involved not only the top scientists of the day, but the United States Congress, the United States Naval Observatory, and the City of Cedar Key. 
Clark five-inch telescope (Photo from Untied States Naval Observatory archives)
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Congress authorized the "Transit of Venus Commission" in the early 1870's to determine the distance of the Earth from the sun by taking detailed scientific measurements after observation of two transits, the first in 1874 and the second in 1882. At the time, it was a monumental and prestigious task that captured the attention of news media across the Nation. Today, however, the work they completed is nearly forgotten, the data scattered and lost. One of the few locations involved in that study that still has some of the old records preserved is Cedar Key.
In the early 1880's, Cedar Key was the only port south of Pensacola with a rail line that connected it to the interior of the State. As the small town grew into an important commercial center, it came to the attention of the Federal Government. The Coast and Geodetic Survey charted the waters and set its geographical location. The town's prestige grew when Congress selected it as one of only four sites for the Transit of Venus Commission's scientific observations. The other cities chosen were Cerro Roblero in New Mexico, San Antonio, Texas and Washington D.C. Data from outside the United States was collected from as far away as New Zealand, Chile and South Africa.
Cedar Key's inclusion in the study was based on its latitudinal location, its railroad service, and the likelihood of clear skies on the day of Venus's transit. There was some concern at first about Cedar Key's selection as one of the observation sites, as it had a reputation (at that time) of being a somewhat backward town with little in the way of modern accommodations, or law and order, to make it palatable to such prestigious visitors.
When the transit party arrived it was necessary to construct a storehouse for the equipment and supplies to protect them from the elements, especially the sand which could cause catastrophic damage to the delicate instruments. Calculations to determine the best placement for the observation station indicated that a small park, located between the Suwannee Hotel and the Atlantic, Gulf and West Indies Transit Company passenger depot was the best spot. (This area is now the City Park).
Construction of the observation buildings was a time consuming and intricate process requiring yards of concrete, metal plating and a marble capstone slab that had to be brought all the way from Jacksonville. The entire progression of the planet [Venus] across the sun's surface was also to be captured on photographic plates so comparisons with the event in 1874 could be made. Over 150 plates were processed and shipped back to Washington on Cedar Key's rail lines.
Scientific interest in the "Transit of Venus" declined with each passing year, as astronomical instruments advanced and allowed man to observe the heavens far beyond the confines of our small solar system. Likewise, following the Transit of Venus Commission's visit to Cedar Key, the loss of the railroad in 1884, and the switch by commercial vessels to the Port of Tampa Bay, signaled a steady decline for the city. But for a few moments in time, Cedar Key was a part of an incredible event that connected it to a world far beyond its island borders.
(If you would like to read more about the 1882 Transit of Venus Commission, or the history of Cedar Key, stop by the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum on the corner of SR 24 and 2nd Street in Cedar Key) | 