1969 .... McLaughlin Planetarium .... Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Built 1967-1968 Architects - Hugh Allward & George R. Gouinlock .... There had been plans to build a planetarium in Toronto for several years, but it wasn't until the mid 1960s when Robert Samuel McLaughlin, a Canadian automobile manufacturer and philanthropist, gave a generous donation of 2 million dollars that the planetarium became a reality. Construction started in 1967 and spanned about a year and a half. The McLaughlin Planetarium became Canada's largest, when it opened its doors to the public on November 2, 1968, at a time when excitement over space travel was at its peak. Visitors to the planetarium would walk through curving galleries that featured astronomical and space themed exhibits, including Hall of the Stars. This walk was a prelude to the main attraction ... the captivating, 361 seat Star Theatre. Guests would take their reclining armchair style seats in the circular auditorium and gaze upwards. Above them was the colossal dome, resembling a giant white movie screen. It served as a canvas for the projection of the awe-inspiring marvels of the universe, including the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, comets, meteor showers, eclipses and Northern Lights. The projection equipment was operated by staff using a sophisticated computer-aided control system while explaining the phenomena that were appearing on the artificial sky above. By May of 1972, one million visitors had passed through the McLaughlin Planetarium. In November of 1995, after 27 years of operation, the planetarium went dark due to declining attendance and budget cuts. Despite petitions to save the abandoned planetarium, demolition began in April of 2026.
1969 .... McLaughlin Planetarium .... Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Built 1967-1968 Architects - Hugh Allward & George R. Gouinlock .... There had been plans to build a planetarium in Toronto for several years, but it wasn't until the mid 1960s when Robert Samuel McLaughlin, a Canadian automobile manufacturer and philanthropist, gave a generous donation of 2 million dollars that the planetarium became a reality. Construction started in 1967 and spanned about a year and a half. The McLaughlin Planetarium became Canada's largest, when it opened its doors to the public on November 2, 1968, at a time when excitement over space travel was at its peak. Visitors to the planetarium would walk through curving galleries that featured astronomical and space themed exhibits, including Hall of the Stars. This walk was a prelude to the main attraction ... the captivating, 361 seat Star Theatre. Guests would take their reclining armchair style seats in the circular auditorium and gaze upwards. Above them was the colossal dome, resembling a giant white movie screen. It served as a canvas for the projection of the awe-inspiring marvels of the universe, including the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, comets, meteor showers, eclipses and Northern Lights. The projection equipment was operated by staff using a sophisticated computer-aided control system while explaining the phenomena that were appearing on the artificial sky above. By May of 1972, one million visitors had passed through the McLaughlin Planetarium. In November of 1995, after 27 years of operation, the planetarium went dark due to declining attendance and budget cuts. Despite petitions to save the abandoned planetarium, demolition began in April of 2026.