Weather information and its collection has been important throughout the history of the United States. During the early to mid- 1800’s weather observation networks were created in the United States. In 1849 the Smithsonian Institution established an organized weather collection network in the United States by supplying weather collection instruments to telegraph companies. These telegraph companies transmitted their data to the Smithsonian Institution. This data was used by the Smithsonian to create weather maps. In 1870 the United States War Department took over the meteorological functions in the United States and collected data through 1890, when the Department of Agriculture established the United States Weather Bureau. Daily weather data was collected around the country. This civilian bureau was transfer to the Department of Commerce in 1940. In 1970 the Weather Bureau became the National Weather Service, administered through the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

In the city of Syracuse, weather data was collected by the Weather Bureau at its office at Syracuse University’s Hall of Languages from 1902 - 1928 . The location of the office was moved to the Federal Building at Clinton Square in 1928. Data collection continued at this location until 1949, when it was moved to the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, where it continues to be collected today.