Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is an observatory in Los Angeles, California, on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park. It commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The observatory is a popular tourist attraction with a close view of the Hollywood Sign and an extensive array of space and science-related displays. It is named after its benefactor, Griffith J. Griffith. Admission has been free since the observatory's opening in 1935, in accordance with the benefactor's will.
| Griffith Observatory | |
|---|---|
Griffith Observatory, September 2006 | |
Location within Los Angeles | |
| Former names | Griffith |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Greco-Roman and Art Deco |
| Location | Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°07′6″N 118°18′1.2″W |
| Elevation | 1,135 ft (346 m) |
| Construction started | June 20, 1933 |
| Inaugurated | May 14, 1935 |
| Client | Griffith Trust |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | John C. Austin Frederick M. Ashley |
| Website | |
| GriffithObservatory.org | |
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument | |
| Designated | November 17, 1976 |
| Reference no. | 168 |
Over 7 million people have been able to view through the 12-inch (30.5 cm) Zeiss refractor since the observatory's 1935 opening; this is the most people to have viewed through any telescope. The space theme prevails in the interior.