The story
Griffith J. Griffith donated 3,015 acres of land to the city on December 16, 1896, and in his will he left money to build an observatory, exhibit hall and planetarium on it. Construction began on June 20, 1933, to a design by architects John C. Austin and Frederic M. Ashley. The observatory opened to the public on May 14, 1935, as the country's third planetarium, and logged more than 13,000 visitors in its first five days.
The observatory appears twice in "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), and a bust of James Dean now stands on the west side of the grounds. It closed on January 6, 2002, for a renovation and major expansion.
Everything that was here
- 1935–present · still open
Griffith ObservatoryFilming Location
Griffith J. Griffith's will paid for the observatory, and admission has been free since it opened on May 14, 1935, as his will required.
See the map in 1936 →
Did you know?
Connected places
Tavern
Bon-Air Cafe and Country Club
Route 66 Drive-In Theatre
Sprague's Super Service Station
Explore the full web of connections on the map.
Nearby history
Brown Derby (Hollywood)
Hollywood Canteen Site
The Masque
Hollywood Hotel
The Frolic Room
Highland Gardens Hotel (formerly Landmark Motor Hotel)
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