That year, Welsh immigrant Griffith J. Griffith purchased the land after striking it big in the silver mining industry. A philanthropist and lover of his adopted city, Griffith gave the land to the city of LA as a Christmas present in so it could be used as a public park. In his own words :. It must be made a place of recreation and rest for the masses, a resort for the rank and file, for the plain people.
I consider it my obligation to make Los Angeles a happier, cleaner, and finer city. I wish to pay my debt of duty in this way to the community in which I have prospered. Per his wishes, the Greek Theatre was constructed in , and the Griffith Observatory followed in Since it opened on May 14, , the Griffith Observatory has offered free admission to the public and remains free to this day.
This includes free public telescopes on the grounds with guidance from demonstrators so you can learn more about our galaxy. Inside, the observatory features two main exhibits: Hall of the Eye, which focuses on human exploration and the continuing discovery of space, and Hall of the Sky, which features a more in-depth look into the science of the solar system.
Beyond that is the crown jewel of the Griffith Observatory — the Samuel Oschin Planetarium — a state-of-the-art, seat planetarium showcasing interactive scientific lectures presented by experts in the field.
On one Saturday of each month from 2 p. As it happens, the Griffith Observatory is located in one of the most beautiful and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in Los Angeles: Los Feliz.
Los Feliz has two main streets running through it which are parallel to each other, running north and south. They are Vermont Avenue and Hillhurst Avenue. Vermont Avenue leads directly north to Griffith Park from the Vermont—Sunset subway station and is peppered with cafes, vintage shops, an old movie theatre, and restaurants.
Larry Flynt , and Transformers Since the observatory opened in , admission has been free, in accordance with Griffith's will. In , the observatory closed for renovation and a major expansion of exhibit space. It reopened to the public on November 3, , retaining its art deco exterior. For over 70 years, the planetarium has been used to present astronomical programs overseen by a lecturer.
The view reveals a variety of buildings, homes and the numerous skyscrapers located in Downtown L. This photograph was taken not long after the observatory reopened on November 3, , after having been closed since for an extensive renovation.
John C. Austin and Frederick M. Ashley were the original architects of the Art Deco structure. Layout by Rocket Website Templates. Griffith Observatory. Austin for a science facility. He later went on to design the iconic Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Historical Notes One night on Mt. Construction rubble is scattered around the Observatory's foundation. The exterior domes can be seen here. Historical Notes Griffith Observatory was shaped not only by the minds of scientists but also by the times in which it was built.
Note the decorative design elements on the walls of the building. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times. Historical Notes The architects added a number of touches of Greek revival to the contemporary Art Deco style, such as fluting from the Greek classical orders. A hiking path has been cut into the hillside below, on the south side, but brush still covers much of the area. Historical Notes Griffith Observatory's unique architecture and setting, compelling programmatic offerings, and cinematic exposure have made it one of the most famous and visited landmarks in Southern California.
Historical Notes Caltech and Mount Wilson engineers drew up plans for the Observatory's fundamental exhibits: a Foucault Pendulum, a foot-diameter model of a section of the Moon sculpted by artist Roger Hayward, and a "three-in-one" coelostat three tracking mirrors on one mount to feed three separate solar telescopes so that the public could study the Sun in the Hall of Science.
Note the construction of a large room at center of photo which will not be visible once the observatory is completed. The square object at right is the scaffolding for the Astronomers Monument. Historical Notes The observatory and accompanying exhibits would be opened to the public on May 14, Construction began on June 20th , and it opened May 14th Several people are on the walks, coming and going to the planetarium the central section of the building.
The domes on the left and the right ends of the building contain the triple-beam solar telescope and the inch Zeiss Refracting Telescope respectively.
Historical Notes The six astronomers featured on the monument are among the most influential and important in history. The pendulum demonstrates the rotation of the earth. Historical Notes The first exhibit visitors encountered was the Foucault pendulum, which was designed to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. Historical Notes Since opening in , more than seven million people have put an eye to Griffith Observatory's original inch Zeiss refracting telescope.
Note the channel terraces on the hillside. The Astronomers Monument, designed by Archibald Garner, is out front on the well manicured front lawn, and some parking with cars is seen around the back side probably for the staff.
Behind the planetarium are the tree covered hills and farther back the beginnings of buildings and homes in Hollywood. The Astronomers Monument stands tall behind them and Mt. Hollywood peak can be seen in the distance. Several cars are parked in front of the observatory. Hollywood hillside is the front of the planetarium, the lawn and parking lot, and road leading down from the Griffith Observatory.
Night view taken from Mt. Historical Notes Since the observatory opened in , admission has been free, in accordance with Griffith's will. Historical Notes For over 70 years, the planetarium has been used to present astronomical programs overseen by a lecturer. Griffith Observatory is a unique hybrid of public observatory, planetarium, and exhibition space. It was constructed with funds from the bequest of Griffith J. Griffith who donated the land for Griffith Park in , who specified the purpose, features, and location of the building in his will.
Upon completion of construction in , the Observatory was given to the City of Los Angeles with the provision that it be operated for the public with no admission charge. When it opened in , it was one of the first institutions in the U.
The building operated continuously from until January 6, , when it closed for a comprehensive renovation and expansion. The renewed building reopened to the public on November 2, It has operated since then with steadily increasing attendance and cultural visibility.
To learn more about the Observatory building, check out our Fun Facts. Since , the Observatory has provided southern Californians and visitors from around the world with chances to observe, to learn, and to be inspired.
Griffith, who was the benefactor for both. His ideas were updated and enhanced when the Observatory was renovated and expanded from The Observatory has been a filming location since before it opened. Members of the media may contact the Observatory for assistance with information, photos, staff interviews, and filming guidance. The Observatory seeks smart, helpful, and engaging people to create memorable visitor experiences. Most staff are part-time, and all staff are City employees.
In addition to the Observatory, the Department operates hundreds of parks, rec centers, pools, golf courses, senior centers, museums, playgrounds, and countless other facilities for the people of Los Angeles.
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