Griffith Observatory Celebrates 75 Years of Public Service!
On May 14, 1935, Los Angeles civic, scientific, and cultural leaders gathered on the side of Mt. Hollywood to celebrate the opening of Griffith Observatory. Only the third planetarium in the U.S. - and the first along the Pacific Rim - the Observatory was the vision of Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, who believed in the transforming power of astronomical observation and cosmic inspiration. That day also marked the transfer of the completed building and grounds from Colonel Griffith's trust to the City of Los Angeles. In the last 75 years, Griffith Observatory has become the most visited public observatory in the world. Owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the Observatory has welcomed more than 73 million visitors and is an icon of southern California. Read more
Containing the very best views in the city hands down, the Griffith Observatory has a little something for everyone. Nestled atop the highest point in the always beautiful Griffith Park, this observatory is free to the public. Whether seeking an educational day with the kids or a romantic night under the stars and city lights the Observatory never fails to captivate. Read more
The ceiling of Griffith Park Observatory's W.M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda has been selected one of the "World's Top 10 Greatest Ceilings" by an obscure and relatively unknown travel Website. Designed and painted by Hollywood producer and art director, and author- turned-muralist Hugo Ballin (1879-1956), the rotunda has images of Atlas holding the sphere of the sky on his shoulders, the planets as gods and the 12 constellations of the zodiac.
Col. Griffith Jenkins Griffith insisted he wasn't trying to buy back the public's favour when he offered to donate money for an observatory nearly two decades after he gave Los Angeles the land for the park in his name.
Anything larger than 12 megapixels seems top-of-the-line for a digital camera. That is, until it's compared to the Big Picture at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. The largest astronomical image ever developed, this incredible photo of the universe is 7.4 gigapixels, which equates to a stunning 7,400 megapixels. Covering 3,000 square feet of wall space, the porcelain enamel Big Picture captures more than 1.5 million celestial objects from galaxies to quasars.
Some of the most popular attractions at Griffith Park have reopened, and cool skies and slight winds mean that blowing ash from the earlier fires in the week will be at a minimum in the largest municipal park in the nation, officials said. City councilman Tom LaBonge's office said the park will be able to host thousands of people over the weekend, as most of the grassy areas at its periphery are open and untouched by last week's fire that burned more than 800 acres in the centre of the Los Angeles basin.
A spectacular wildfire that scorched more than 800 acres of a historic Los Angeles park could be brought under control within 24 hours, city fire chiefs said Wednesday. Los Angeles Fire Department chief Douglas Barry said a drop in winds had assisted crews battling the blaze which erupted on Monday and tore through tinder-dry brush in the popular Griffith Park.