Introduction and Maps

The marker is located just off the shoulder (berm) of U.S. Route 23 between the cities of Columbus and Delaware, Ohio, but much closer to Delaware. The map at the left (Map 1) is a small-size portion of a map of Ohio showing Columbus at the bottom and the city of Delaware at the top.

Unfortunately, in order to see what I will be referring to next, you will probably need to click on the image on the left to obtain a much larger version of Map 1, and you will probably have to go back and forth between this text and the larger version of the map. It is relatively easy to go back and forth in your browser, though. After you have obtained the large map, click the <Back> button (or equivalently, use <Alt-left arrow>) to go back to this text. You can then click the <Forward> button (or equivalently, use the <Alt-right arrow>) to go to the large map.

On the large Map 1 locate U.S. Rte. 23 connecting Worthington (a northern suburb of Columbus) and Delaware. Just south of Delaware, look for the intersection of U.S. Rte. 23 with Ohio Rte. 315 at Stratford. Follow Rte. 23 south a short distance until you see a solid red dot; left of that dot you will find the notation "Perkins Observatory". WARNING!! It looks like Perkins Observatory is just off Rte. 315 but that is wrong; Perkins Observatory is just off Rte. 23. In fact, the Big Ear marker is very near Perkins Observatory. However, please read on because knowing that fact alone can get you into trouble very easily.

At the left is a portion of a map of Delaware County, Ohio (which contains the city of Delaware); this is Map 2. Click on the small version at the left to obtain a large version and use the same <Back> and <Forward> procedure as before.

Looking at the large version of Map 2 locate the intersection of Rte. 315 and Rte. 23 (to the right (east) of Rte. 315; Rte. 23 is shown as a double line). Just below (south) of this intersection are shown 4 black squares labeled in succession from north to south: (1) Methodist Theological School in Ohio; (2) Perkins Observatory; (3) Delaware Country Club; and (4) Tanglewood Golf Club. The name for the Delaware Country Club was changed to Dornoch Golf Club and then changed again to the Delaware Golf Club.

Our Big Ear marker is located just inside the entrance to the Delaware Golf Club (formerly, Dornoch Golf Club, and before that, Delaware Country Club as shown on the map). However, you had better read on, because there are certain difficulties in getting to the entrance of the Delaware Golf Club. The following photos and text should explain the problems.

If you are coming north on U.S. Rte. 23 from Columbus or its northern suburbs (like Worthington), the directions will be straightforward. On the other hand, if you are coming south on U.S. Rte. 23 from the city of Delaware, it is much more complicated due to the unfortunate placement of concrete barriers that divide the highway. I will first describe the simple procedure when driving from the south heading north. Then I will describe the procedure when going from north to south.

Coming from South to North on U.S. Rte. 23

Get into Delaware County (from Franklin County) on Rte. 23 north. Look for mile marker 7 (you'll need an eagle eye to spot this); you are now 1.2 miles from the marker. Past mile marker 7 you should drive 0.6 miles and look for a traffic light at the intersection with Cheshire Rd. (a road that goes east from Rte. 23; it does not go west of Rte. 23). At the left is a photo of this intersection. Notice the start of the concrete barrier in the center of the divided highway. At this point you are 0.6 miles from the marker.

Continuing north on Rte. 23 you'll begin to go down a long hill. Near the bottom you may spot mile marker 8 (that looks like the photo on the right). You are now only 0.2 miles from the marker.

When you get to the bottom of the hill, slow down and pull over onto the paved shoulder (berm). Be prepared to stop when you see the entrance to the Delaware Golf Club (formerly, Dornoch Golf Club). Note the photo on the left shows the signage for Dornoch Golf Club).

In this photo you not only see the entrance to the Delaware Golf Club (formerly, Dornoch Golf Club) and its sign, but near the right edge of the photo is our Big Ear Historical Marker.

Parking: The best place to park is on the shoulder of the road. It is paved and wide enough so that you can get your vehicle well away from the traffic lanes. DO NOT PARK INSIDE THE ENTRANCE TO THE GOLF CLUB! Golfers expect to be able to drive on the narrow driveway up to their parking lot (the driveway to the right), and later be able to exit (the driveway to the left); you shouldn't block those driveways.

Here are two more photos of the Dornoch Golf Club sign. Look at the two photos below for the replacement signage for the Delaware Golf Club (the new name for the previous Dornoch Golf Club).

Going from North to South on U.S. Rte. 23

Heading south on U.S. Rte. 23 from the city of Delaware (being south of that city), you will come to the point where Ohio Rte. 315 breaks off to the right (west) as shown in the photo to the left. DO NOT EXIT ONTO RTE. 315. Continue south on Rte. 23. Notice the hill in the distance in this photo. It is going to come into play later. Although you are only about 0.7 miles from the marker as the crow flies, you are not a crow, so you will actually have to drive about 2 miles to get to the marker. I'm about to explain why.

The photo at the left shows the start of the concrete barrier dividing the highway. It happens to start at the entrance to Perkins Observatory. You may have realized from Map 2 that the marker is only a few hundred feet from this entrance to Perkins Observatory. Hence, you may be tempted to avoid the problems with the barrier and simply turn in to the entrance to Perkins Observatory and then walk to the marker. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

The photo at the left shows the entrance to Perkins Observatory. Notice that the driveway is narrow and it crosses a fairway of the Delaware Golf Club. Parking on the driveway is not allowed. Also, it is dangerous because, if you were to park there, the presence of white dimpled spherical missiles traveling at high velocities (golf balls) could inflict damage to your vehicle and to your anatomy.

The photo to the left shows the sign to Perkins Observatory. Although I'm strongly recommending against parking on the driveway to Perkins Observatory, I do strongly recommend, however, that you attend public activities put on by the Observatory if convenient for your schedule. You should check out their website located at www.perkins-observatory.org. Their website has a list of all public programs. It has an excellent section on purchasing an optical telescope and answers to frequently asked questions. Perkins Observatory has a display on the Big Ear radio telescope including a copy of the 'Wow!' signal computer printout with a message signed by the discoverer of that signal (Dr. Jerry R. Ehman).

So what's next? The safest procedure is to drive past where you want to go (see the two photos below), drive up the hill staying in the left lane, turn around at the Cheshire Rd. intersection, and follow the instructions given above as if you were coming from Columbus heading north. However, continue reading and viewing photos because I have some advice for you regarding the Cheshire Rd. intersection.

The two photos to the left show the entrance to the Delaware (Dornoch) Golf Club as viewed from the opposite side of the concrete barrier when you are driving from north to south on Rte. 23. The marker is seen on the right side of each photo.

Keep driving south up the hill. Stay in the left lane. Just after you reach the top of the hill, you will come to the intersection with Cheshire Rd.

Stay in left lane. Be prepared to make a U-turn to head north on Rte. 23. This can be dangerous. Look out for traffic coming north on Rte. 23 and for traffic coming from Cheshire Rd. heading either south or north.

If you are unable to make a U-turn due to heavy traffic, you should turn left onto Cheshire Rd., find a place to turn around, and then get back onto Rte. 23 heading north.

Once you are heading north on Rte. 23, follow the instructions I gave you above for south-to-north travel.

Leaving the Marker Site

When you are finished looking at the marker and are back in your vehicle, look for fast traffic and be careful merging with that traffic.

If you are heading north toward Delaware, there is no problem. Just stay in the right lane until you're up to speed.

If you want to head south toward Columbus, you must be very careful. There is no choice but to first head north. Wait until there is little traffic, move immediately over to the left lane keeping your speed low because you will want to make a left turn (a U-turn) when the barrier ends (opposite the entrance (exit) to Perkins Observatory). At the end of the barrier, start turning left but stay in the divided area between the northbound and southbound lanes until the southbound traffic is light enough so that you can get into the southbound lanes and speed up to merge with the traffic.

In spite of the potential problems I've tried to warn you about when visiting the Big Ear Historical Marker, I hope you will do so when you are in the area.