The Blanton Student Observatory was gifted by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Blanton in 1934. It was originally constructed on the land where the Fondren Science Building now sits. It was moved between 1945 and 1946 to its present location behind Dallas Hall, “high on the hilltop.” When the observatory was built, the campus and surrounding neighborhood was much darker at night making it a perfect location for late-night Astronomy lessons.

Despite the lit streets nearby, the observatory is still used by the Physics and Geology departments. The Blanton Student Observatory has a rotating roof that opens and houses a telescope built in 1910. The telescope is still in excellent working condition and on clear, dry nights students can use it to watch the night skies.