Griffith Observatory — Attraction in Los Angeles

The observatory is a 5-star attraction. However, getting all of the necessary and helpful information is somewhat bewildering, and some of the policies just don't make sense to me as a visitor. Still, once you know how things work, it's worth more than one visit because there is just so much to see and experience. Parking at or near the observatory is $4 per hour. We chose to go on a day when nothing was scheduled at the Greek Theater. When there's nothing on there, parking is free and abundant. That's where we parked, crossed the street and caught the DASH shuttle that runs about every 20-25 minutes. It cost us $0.25 each as seniors(60+), normally $0.50 per person, each way. Or you can walk up the hill. Several interesting trailheads on the way up. Admission to the observatory is free. You pay to attend the various video presentations, which are quite good. Each costs $7 per person, $5 for seniors. We saw the program on the Northern Lights, and Center of the Universe. Way too many interesting displays and exhibits all over the place, all free. There are lots of restrooms, although those can get crowded, water fountains, and very few benches. The cafe is decent, and supplied by Wolfgang Puck, but very limited choices. Almost everything was put away by 6 or 6:30 pm, and it was closed by 7 pm, despite there being lots of hungry visitors. Huh! I don't understand that. The other thing I don't understand is that they seem to allow backpacks. Not a very secure environment in my opinion, and you can't check them in. I think next time, I would bring a backpack and carry my snacks and meals with me. The big, main telescope is available, first-come-first-served, 7-9:30 pm, and is free of charge. A docent does an amazing job of chatting about what you can see, and about the telescope, while people move through. We got to look at details on the moon, even though the sky was still light. You don't have to wait until the sun sets to get some good views. About the same time, there were 3 or 4 smaller, more modern telescopes set up next to the front lawn. Access to these is also free, and there are trained and knowledgeable personnel instructing the use of these. You just line up and wait your turn. We got to see the planet Jupiter, with its rings and two of its moons. Very cool! Fun to hear all kinds of languages...

The Griffith Observatory is a facility in Los Angeles, California, sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles' 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 an excellent view of the Hollywood Sign and an extensive array of space and science-related displays. Admission has been free since the observatory's opening in 1935, in accordance with the will of Griffith J. Griffith, the benefactor after whom the observatory is named.

3,015 acres (12.20 km2) of land surrounding the observatory was donated to the City of Los Angeles by Griffith J. Griffith on December 16, 1896.[1] In his will Griffith donated funds to build an observatory, exhibit hall, and planetarium on the donated land. Griffith's objective was to make astronomy accessible by the public, as opposed to the prevailing idea that observatories should be located on remote mountaintops and restricted to scientists.

Griffith drafted detailed specifications for the observatory. In drafting the plans, he consulted with Walter Adams, the future director of Mount Wilson Observatory, and George Ellery Hale, who founded (with Andrew Carnegie) the first astrophysical telescope in Los Angeles.

As a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project,construction began on June 20, 1933, using a design developed by architect John C. Austin based on preliminary sketches by Russell W. Porter. The observatory and accompanying exhibits were opened to the public on May 14, 1935 as the country's third planetarium.In its first five days of operation the observatory logged more than 13,000 visitors. Dinsmore Alter was the museum's director during its first years.

The building combines Greek and Beaux-Arts influences, and the exterior is embellished with the Greek key pattern.

During World War II the planetarium was used to train pilots in celestial navigation. The planetarium was again used for this purpose in the 1960s to train Apollo program astronauts for the first...

This place more than exceeded my expectations. The views were incredible, and since I went right after a rain shower, there was very little Los Angeles smog. The most notable views are the Hollywood sign, Downtown Los Angeles, and the Pacific Ocean. But don’t think the views are the only amazing quality of this place. On a clear night (or even evening if the moon is up early), you are allowed to view objects in space through the Zeiss telescope! It’s a very powerful telescope and since Griffith J. Griffith (the observatory’s founder) wanted it to be a public observatory, it’s the most viewed observatory telescope in the world! There is also a solar refractor which shines down into 3 solar telescopes so you can view the sun and it’s sunspots in real time! This place is also a very fascinating and educational museum with pieces of the moon and comets/meteors, plus many other exhibits! Admission is free to everything (including telescopes) except the planetarium, for which there is a very small fee ($7 is the adult fee which is the most expensive). I highly recommend seeing one of the planetarium’s spectacular shows. I saw the Flight of the Valkyries, but there are others that you can find out about on the observatory’s website. Don’t bother trying to drive up to the front of the observatory and park ($4/hour). Instead, park in one of the many Greek Theatre lots (free) and either walk up one of the mile-long hiking trails (all uphill) or take the DASH shuttle (50 cents per person). All in all, this is a great tourist destination that I highly recommend for anyone visiting the Hollywood area! Here are some pictures that I took...