The Griffith Observatory is a public observatory in Los Angeles, owned by the city and operated by the Department of Recreation and Parks. It was donated by Welsh entrepreneur Griffith J. Griffith in 1912 and completed in 1935. The observatory has a planetarium, telescope, theater, classroom, gift shop, and restaurant. Admission is free, and the site hosts regular events to spark interest in science. The observatory’s Art Deco design has made it a popular landmark and filming location.
The Griffith Observatory is a public observatory owned by the City of Los Angeles and operated by the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks. The Griffith Observatory’s distinctive appearance has made it a Los Angeles landmark, and the site is hugely popular with visitors. The Observatory’s mission is to connect members of the general public with the sciences, sparking interest in astronomy and scientific research.
The history of the Griffith Observatory begins in 1896, when Griffith J. Griffith, a Welsh entrepreneur, donated a large parcel of land to the City of Los Angeles for use as a public park. Griffith felt that having a park in the city was very important and that he wanted to do his civic duty by creating a pleasant green space for the public. In 1912, Griffith approached the city again, offering to donate a substantial sum to be used to build an observatory on Mount Hollywood, a peak in Griffith Park.
Los Angeles officials agreed, and in 1916 plans were drawn up for what became known as the Griffith Observatory. However, plans began to delay, for a variety of reasons, and Griffith realized that he probably would not live to see the observatory built. When he died in 1919, he left very specific instructions in his will to allow construction, but the Griffith Observatory was not finished until 1935. Upon its opening, the observatory proved an instant success, with its striking Art Deco design and the attractive diversions within.
In 2002, the Griffith Observatory was renovated. Today the site has a large theater and classroom as well as a telescope and planetarium. Numerous rotating science and space displays are scattered throughout the observatory, including a massive walk-through display that allows people to see the relationship between the sun, moon, and stars. The observatory also has a gift shop and restaurant.
As part of its commitment to public service, admission to the Griffith Observatory is free and the site is open six days a week. The observatory also hosts regular events to spark interest in science, such as eclipse parties, and the large theater is used to view films of scientific interest ranging from Mars rover footage to educational films.
The classic 1930s look of the Griffith Observatory has been used by numerous film crews working in both film and television. Thanks to the exterior being largely intact, it is possible to use the site as a setting for films set in the 1930s, and the sweeping views from the observatory are also quite attractive to filmmakers.
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