The Griffith Observatory sits in the hills above Los Angeles with a view of the ocean, Hollywood, and downtown L.A. When it opened in 1896, it was only the third planetarium in the country.

Fun Facts

• The observatory is in Griffith Park, a 3,015 acre public park. It was commissioned by Griffith J. Griffith, who in 1896 donated the land to the city and allotted funds to be used for an observatory, planetarium, and exhibit hall.

  

• At that time, planetariums and observatories were open primarily to scientists and they were usually built in remote places. Griffith wanted science and space study to be available to everyone.
• The architect, John C. Austin, designed the observatory in a Greek Revival/Art Deco style. Admission to the observatory is free.
• More than 7 million people have visited the observatory since 1935 to look through its 12-inch Zeiss refractor.
• In 2006, the building was renovated and expanded to include a restaurant and more exhibit rooms, which hold science and space artifacts.

 

Vocabulary

1. Allot: set aside for a specific purpose
2. Exhibit: a display

 

Questions and Answers

Question: What is the observatory known for?

Answer: The observatory, which sits high on a hill, is very recognizable and has been featured in many movies, including Transformers.

 

Learn More

Learn about the observatory and the park.