Griffith Observatory

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Griffith Observatory is an Art Deco observatory on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California. From its hilltop it looks out over the Los Angeles Basin, Downtown, Hollywood and the Pacific Ocean, and it has a close view of the Hollywood Sign.

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At a glance

Country: United States
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Built: 1935
Type: Museum

Quick answers

Where is Griffith Observatory?

Griffith Observatory is in Los Angeles, USA, United States.

When was Griffith Observatory built?

Griffith Observatory was built in 1935.

An Art Deco hilltop observatory with free public telescopes and views of the Hollywood Sign.

It opened on May 14, 1935, and quickly became a favorite place to learn about space. It holds a planetarium, exhibits and public telescopes. More than 9 million people have looked through its 12-inch Zeiss telescope, which makes it the most viewed telescope in the world.

Who was Griffith?

Griffith J. Griffith gave about 3,015 acres of land to the City of Los Angeles in 1896. In his will he also left money for an observatory, an exhibit hall and a planetarium. His goal was to make astronomy open to everyone, instead of limiting telescopes to scientists. The official history says he wanted a public telescope that anyone could look through, a Hall of Science and a theater for science films, which later became the planetarium.

Building and rebuilding

Construction began on June 20, 1933. Architects thickened the concrete walls after the Long Beach earthquake of March 1933. In its first five days more than 13,000 people visited. During World War II the planetarium trained pilots in celestial navigation, and in the 1960s it trained Apollo astronauts. From 2002 to 2006 the building was closed for a $93 million renovation, which kept the Art Deco exterior and added new exhibit space underground.

Fun facts

Its Zeiss telescope is said to have been looked through by more people than any other telescope.
More than 9 million people have looked through its 12-inch Zeiss telescope.
Apollo astronauts practiced celestial navigation in its planetarium in the 1960s.
It opened in 1935 as the third planetarium in the United States.