Are there any older, smaller telescopes nearby that still use the old eyepiece to the optics method? I know even the great Mount Palomar has that.

Of course if you can present some kind of observation even in the computerized control room, that could have an impact as well. I understand about papers and priorities - I am not asking someone to give up years of hard work for a demonstration.

I'm talking show these people Saturn or the Andromeda galaxy or the Moon, something that will grab their attention and wonder and not leave them thinking the whole place is just for cryptic eggheads who don't care to share their knowledge with the "commoners". It might save you and other future observatories a lot of grief.

Plus I think a public outreach is the obligation of all major science facilities. I was just witness to one at the Wilson Synchrotron Lab at Cornell, where they had their first open house in 20 years. Hundreds showed up on a hot, humid Saturday afternoon. I think the Lab did a good job, though my suggestion is that next time they have handouts for the public to take home and help them to understand and remember what they saw - in this case, one of only ten major particle accelerators on Earth.