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Places, Earth |
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Places, Earth |
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| Back | Los Angeles County Main Page |
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Griffith Observatory opened in 1935 and quickly became one of the most visited tourist attractions of Southern California. The Griffith Observatory is a star itself, having appeared in numerous motion pictures and television programs. Colonel Griffith J. Griffith (1850 - 1919) donated to the City of Los Angeles the land that became Griffith Park and also donated the money with which to build the Griffith Observatory and the Greek Theatre. The City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks operates the park and most of the facilities. Although the name says observatory, it is more a museum or public educational facility. It does sometimes make contributions to science. Groundbreaking for Griffith Observatory occurred on June 20, 1933. The dedication and formal opening was on May 14, 1935. George Ellery Hale of the Mount Wilson Observatory worked behind the scenes to use his influence to guide the observatory's planning. Walter Adams and Robert A. Millikan of Caltech, organized a Scientific Advisory Committee. Caltech physicist Edward Kurth gathered information about museums and exhibits, and drew up the preliminary plans, acted as consultant to guide the construction of the building, and to became the observatory's first director. Russell W. Porter became an architect, artist and designer, and contributed to the design process. The John C. Austin/Frederick M. Ashley consortium was awarded the contract as project architect. They hired Edward Kurth to direct the project with Russell Porter as consultant. In November of 1931, the architects, the trust committee, Porter, and Kurth decided on a location on the south slope of Mt. Hollywood. A 75-foot-wide theater was built for planetarium shows. The planetarium was a new idea, having been invented in 1923. The planetarium in the Griffith Observatory was the third to be completed in the United States. The Public Works Administration (or PWA, the forerunner of the larger WPA) employed six sculptors to create a public sculpture at Griffith Observatory, each artist sculpted one famous astronomer for the six-sided "Astronomers Monument" which still graces the front lawn. A twelve-inch Zeiss telescope is accessible from the roof. A triple-beam coelostat (the three-part solar telescope) is located in the west wing allowing visitors to view the sun. The star of the exhibits is the Foucault pendulum in the main rotunda. Countless visitors have watched the slow swing of the pendulum, knocking down a row of pegs as the earth revolves below the observatory. In 1964, the Mark IV planetarium projector was installed. It was still in daily use at the time that the observatory closed for refurbishing. Parts were no longer available and it will be replaced as part of the renovation. The old Zeiss Mark IV will be placed on display in the new museum. In February 1984, a year-long major cleaning began on the dome. The copper panels that comprise the dome were cleaned by hand. The over sixty year old facility is currently undergoing its first major renovation and expansion and is scheduled to reopen late in 2005. The additions include a large gallery space under the front lawn and a second smaller theater. The new design is careful to minimize the alterations to the appearance of the building by making most of the changes underground or in the back of the building. The trail to Mt. Hollywood and the famous Hollywood Sign leaves from the Griffith Observatory parking lot. The Griffith Observatory is located at 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027. (323) 664-1181. info@GriffithObs.org. A beautiful view of the Los Angeles Basin can be seen on a clear day. |
 Front. Photo Date: 6-21-88 |
 Front. Photo Date: 8-11-98. |
 Front lawn. Photo Date: 8-11-98. |
 From below. Photo Date: 2-25-77 |
 Front. Photo Date: 6-21-88. |
 Los Angeles from back. Photo Date: 8-11-98. |
 Roof. Photo Date: 8-11-98. |
 Roof. Photo Date: 8-11-98. |
 Front doors. Photo Date: 9-22-01. |
 Projector. Photo Date: 9-28-79 |
 Projector. Photo Date: 8-11-98. |
 Teslacoil. Photo Date: 9-22-01 |
 Teslacoil. Photo Date: 9-28-79. |
Another view of Los Angeles on a typical smoggy day. Photo date: 9-25-04.
| As of this writing, the Observatory in undergoing a major renovation taking several years. Below are some photos of this renovation. |
 Renovations in progress. Photo Date: 2-1-03. |
 Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 9-25-04. |
 Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 9-25-04. |
 Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 9-25-04. |
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Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 9-25-04. |
 Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 9-25-04. |
 Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 9-25-04. |
 Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 9-25-04. |
 Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 9-25-04. |
 Renovation in progress. Photo Date: 2-2-05. |
 As viewed from the new BCAM at LACMA, photo date: 2-14-08. |
 As viewed from the new BCAM at LACMA, photo date: 2-14-08. |
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| Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
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