Kitt Peak was selected by its first director, Aden B. Meinel, in 1958 as the site for a national observatory under contract with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and was administered by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy.
Vârful Kitt Peak a fost selecționat de primul său director, Aden B. Meinel, în anul 1958, ca loc al unui observator astronomic național prin contract cu National Science Foundation (NSF) și fusese administrat de Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy.