Griffith Observatory
- Architect
- John C. Austin
- Year
- 1935
- Style
- Art Deco
- City
- Los Angeles, CA
- Collection
- l.a. deco
Griffith Observatory sits on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood, designed by John C. Austin and completed in 1935 in Art Deco style. It exists because Griffith J. Griffith, who had donated 3,015 acres of surrounding land to the city in 1896, left funds in his will for an observatory, exhibit hall, and planetarium, on the condition that admission stay free — a deliberate break from observatories built for scientists rather than the public.
the building
The Zeiss telescope. Since opening, more than 9 million people have looked through the observatory's 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope, making it, by that count, the most-viewed telescope in the world.
the style
The Art Deco design and hilltop massing were built to command the view Griffith wanted for the public: Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, the Hollywood Sign, and the Pacific all read from the observatory's terraces.
More on Art Decosignificance
Griffith Observatory was designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #168 in 1976. Admission has remained free since 1935, per the terms of Griffith's will.
nearby
- Hlaffer-Courcier Residence
- Ennis - Brown House
- Lovell House
- Victor Rossetti Residence
- Sowden house
- Le Trianon Apartments