Mizusawa, Japan and the City of Gaithersburg are forever linked by a unique scientific endeavor that began over 100 years ago. These two cities are home to latitude observatories, which tracked the wobble of the Earth on its polar axis to aid in navigation. There were a total of six in operation around the globe. The Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
In celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month and National Historic Preservation Month, the City of Gaithersburg will honor this unique relationship with “A Tribute to Japan: Honoring our Common Humanity.”
A public celebration will take place on Monday, May 16 at Gaithersburg City Hall. From 6 to 7:15, there will be a reception in the second floor gallery featuring Japanese foods and presentations commemorating the shared history of Mizusawa and Gaithersburg. At 7:30 p.m. the public is invited to witness a proclamation and additional presentations to be made during the Mayor and City Council meeting. Admission to the reception is free, but reservations are required. Please RSVP by May 9, 2011 to Shanthi Srinivasachar at ssrinivaschar@gaithersburgmd.gov or 301-258-6395 x3. The reception is hosted by the City’s Multicultural Affairs Committee and the Historic District Commission.
