Prelude. Perspectives and problems: the nation, the navy, the stars
PART I. The founding era, 1830-65
From depot to national observatory, 1830-46
Choice of roles: the Maury years, 1844-61
Foundations of the American Nautical Almanac Office, 1849-65
Gilliss and the Civil-War years
PART II. The golden era, 1866-93
Asaph Hall, the Great Refractor, and the moons of Mars
William Harkness and the transits of Venus of 1874 and 1882
Simon Newcomb and his work
PART III. The twentieth century
Observatory circle: a new site and administrative challges for the twentieth century
Space: the astronomy of position and its uses
Time: a service for the world
Navigation: from stars to satellites.
