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San Jose, CA – The Rosicrucian Order, AMORC began work on the historic Planetarium in Rosicrucian Park during the first week of June 2003, part of the larger 75th Anniversary Capital Campaign for Rosicrucian Park.

The Planetarium, built by Park founder Dr. H. Spencer Lewis in 1936, was the 5th planetarium established in the United States, and delighted generations of children and adults with its educational star shows such as The Ancient Skies, and Ancient Mysteries. The Planetarium, along with the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, Francis Bacon auditorium and the Egyptian revival gardens of the Park, were all part of Dr. Lewis’ vision of service to the community, creating an sanctuary of peace, culture and education for all to enjoy.

With the work that has been begun, the Planetarium is currently scheduled for reopening on March 19, 2004. The first phase of work is being donated by Metacrylics Roofing of San Jose, an environmentally sensitive “Energy Star” company, owned and operated by the Anthenien family. Following this, interior work and upgrades on the central star projector mechanism will take place.

The first phase of work began on a sunny day in June. Old paint and tar were removed from the rolled tin dome of the 1930's era planetarium. Even as the crews labored to remove the coating from one side of the dome, a new surface was laid down on the other side. In honor of the Moorish revivial architecture of the planetarium, the dome will be green, a color which Islam traditionally associates with heaven. This should be more than appropriate for a structure that has taught four generations about the skies above