3/20/2023 0 Comments Observatory laPer his wishes, the Greek Theatre was constructed in 1930, and the Griffith Observatory followed in 1935. I wish to pay my debt of duty in this way to the community in which I have prospered. ![]() I consider it my obligation to make Los Angeles a happier, cleaner, and finer city. It must be made a place of recreation and rest for the masses, a resort for the rank and file, for the plain people. Griffith’s will left a fund with specific instructions to use the park to build a Greek amphitheater and “an observatory and hall of science.” A philanthropist and lover of his adopted city, Griffith gave the land to the city of LA as a Christmas present in 1896 so it could be used as a public park. Griffith purchased the land after striking it big in the silver mining industry. It wasn’t until 1882 that Rancho Los Feliz became Griffith Park. The Los Feliz neighborhood is loved for its charming cafes and restaurants, pedestrian-friendly streets (a rarity in Los Angeles), and its eclectic mix of residential architecture. Today, the neighborhood the park sits in is still known as Los Feliz. In those days, the land was known as Rancho Los Feliz. In the 18th century, the Spanish governor of California presented the land that is today Griffith Park to Corporal Jose Vicente Feliz, as a gift for safely bringing the first Spanish settlers to California. Today, it’s the crown jewel of LA’s Griffith park - one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, at over 4,210 acres. The Griffith Observatory exists today because of one man’s love of science and astronomy and his desire to make LA a more beautiful place for its residents. From Ranches to Riches: A History of the Griffith Observatory Before you visit this (free!) attraction, let’s learn a little bit more about why it’s so special and what you should see when you go. Its location and the views it affords are as much a destination as the observatory itself. This 1930s Art Deco structure sits over 1000 feet above sea level, wedged between the famous Hollywood sign behind it and the picturesque Los Feliz neighborhood below. ![]() One of LA’s historical jewels - beloved by locals and frequented by tourists - is the Griffith Observatory. On warm nights, with the lights twinkling below, this is one of the most romantic places in L.A.When you think of LA, the first things that come to mind are probably movies, celebrities, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the surfers of Venice Beach.īut Los Angeles has a fascinating history that goes beyond movie-making and beaches. Truth be told, most locals never actually go inside the observatory they come to this spot on the south slope of Mount Hollywood for the unparalleled city views. There's also the 200-seat Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater (go Spock!), a Wolfgang Puck "Café at the End of the Universe," and several Zeiss and solar telescopes for public use both day and night. The observatory also features 60 space-related exhibits designed to "sparkle your imagination," the highlight being the largest astronomically accurate image ever produced - a 20*152-foot porcelain enamel dazzler that's cleverly called "The Big Picture." It supposedly encompasses a million galaxies, but I lost count after 11. The central dome houses the 300-seat Samuel Oschin Planetarium, where hourly screenings of a narrated 30-minute projection show called "Centered in the Universe" reveal the stars and planets that are hidden from the naked eye by the city's ubiquitous lights and smog. ![]() Closed for renovation for what seemed like forever, it finally reopened in November 2006 after a $93-million overhaul. Made world-famous in the film Rebel Without a Cause, Griffith Observatory's bronze domes have been Hollywood Hills landmarks since 1935.
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