Since its inception, the science of astronomy had been limited to the observation of objects in the visible light spectrum. The detection of radio emission has added a new dimension to our perception. From Reber’s modest backyard antenna built in 1937, to the innovative James Clerk Maxwell Telescope with its state-of-the-art multi-feed receiver system, single-dish radio telescopes have made important contributions to the field of radio astronomy and will continue to do so. The single-dish telescope has not been rendered obsolete by interferometers; rather, they work together as a complementary couple, with single-dishes giving an overview of the large-scale structure of the cosmos, and interferometers revealing the fine details. The astronomical research programs carried out by single-dish radio telescopes have expanded our view of the sky and enhanced our understanding of the nature of the universe.