A Welsh immigrant once looked through the world’s largest telescope and declared, “If all mankind could look through that telescope, it would change the world!” — and so he built one for everyone. Griffith Observatory sits on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, and nearly a century after opening its doors, it still delivers on that lofty promise. Today, Griffith Observatory is renowned as a national leader in public astronomy and a beloved gathering place for visitors and Angelenos alike.
The observatory and its accompanying exhibits were opened to the public on May 14, 1935, as the country’s third planetarium. Griffith’s experience at the Mount Wilson Observatory focused his desire to make science more accessible to the public, and on December 12, 1912, he offered the City of Los Angeles $100,000 for an observatory to be built atop Mount Hollywood — fully owned and operated by the City. His vision hasn’t dimmed one bit: admission has been free since the observatory’s opening in 1935, in accordance with the benefactor’s will.
What to See & Do Inside
The W. M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda features several Hugo Ballin murals on the ceiling and upper walls restored since 1934, a Foucault pendulum that demonstrates the Earth’s rotation, and a small exhibit dedicated to Griffith J. Griffith. The pendulum alone is mesmerizing — a slow, hypnotic swing that quietly proves the planet beneath your feet is always in motion.
Located on the observatory’s main level, the Hall of the Eye illustrates the nature and progress of human observation of the sky. One of its highlights is a Tesla coil, built in 1910 by Earle Ovington, donated to Griffith Observatory after his death in 1936 — and repaired with the help of Kenneth Strickfaden, who designed electrical special effects for Frankenstein (1931) and The Wizard of Oz (1939). Watching the coil crackle with electricity during its daily live demonstration is one of those rare museum moments that makes you feel like a kid again.
The Cosmic Connection is a 150-foot-long hallway connecting the main building and the underground exhibition areas that depicts the history of the universe, dramatizing the amount of time that has passed from the Big Bang to the present day using hundreds of individual pieces of astronomy-related jewelry. It’s an unexpectedly artistic way to wrap your head around 13.8 billion years.
One of the highlights of the lower-level Gunther Depths of Space exhibit is The Big Picture — the largest astronomically accurate image ever constructed, measuring 152 feet long by 20 feet high. The highly detailed image depicts the core of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies and contains nearly a million faint galaxies, about half a million stars in our own galaxy, a thousand distant quasars, and more. You can walk right up to it or use telescopes placed 60 feet away — either way, the scale is genuinely staggering.
The Samuel Oschin Planetarium features an array of cutting-edge technologies presenting world-class scientific educational programming for audiences of all ages. At 75 feet, the seamless, perforated aluminum dome is one of the largest planetarium domes in the world. There are multiple shows in the planetarium with a rotating schedule, and tickets range in price from $3 to $7 — making it one of the best entertainment bargains in all of Los Angeles.
The Telescope & Outdoor Grounds
Since its opening, over 9 million people have looked through the 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope, making it the most viewed telescope in the world. Once night falls, the experience gets even better — the public telescope opens around 7 PM, letting visitors gaze at stars, planets, and constellations through this 12-inch refractor that’s nearly a century old.
Before heading inside, be sure to wander the observatory grounds, where you’ll find the Astronomers Monument dedicated to six of history’s greatest astronomers — including Galileo, Newton, and Copernicus — a bust of James Dean honoring his iconic film Rebel Without a Cause, planetary sidewalks with plaques representing the planets and their distances from the sun, and the Local Noon Exhibit, a unique installation that uses sunlight to show the exact position of the sun each day. Each of these outdoor spots tells a story, blending art, history, and science beautifully.
The observatory commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The view of the city and the Hollywood Sign is spectacular, especially at sunset when everything turns orange and the lights start to come on. Few places in LA rival it for pure visual drama.
Hollywood’s Favorite Backdrop
This celestial edifice has been seen in over 170 productions in its storied history. The observatory was featured twice in Rebel Without a Cause (1955), which helped make it an international emblem of Los Angeles, and a bust of the film’s star James Dean was subsequently placed at the west side of the grounds. More recently, it served as a pivotal setting in La La Land and has appeared in The Terminator, Transformers, and dozens of other major productions. Cinephiles will find as much to love here as astronomy buffs.
During World War II, the planetarium was used to train pilots in celestial navigation — and was again used for this same purpose in the 1960s to train Apollo program astronauts for the first lunar missions. The history layered into these walls goes far deeper than its glamorous movie cameos suggest.
Atmosphere & Architecture
Noted for its bright Beaux-Arts/Art Deco concrete exterior, distinctive copper-paneled domes, interior marble floors, exotic woods, bronze metalwork, and travertine panels, this wondrous window to the cosmos has been visited by over 85 million people in its long history. The building feels monumental and majestic without being cold — there’s a warmth and openness to it that perfectly reflects its founder’s democratic spirit.
The observatory’s rooftop is designed with a wrap-around walkway that connects terraces on the east and west sides of the building, offering inspiring vistas even on a hazy morning. Whether you’re watching the city bake in afternoon sun or witnessing it glow under a purple-and-gold sunset, the terraces are among the most spectacular perches in all of Southern California.
Inside, there are interactive exhibitions on space, planets, and astronomy — interesting even for those who are not super enthusiasts. The cafe on the premises, called the Café at the End of the Universe, offers a casual spot to refuel between exhibits, with terrace seating that makes lingering feel entirely justified.
Other Considerations
Is it really free? The observatory’s grounds, exhibits, and telescopes are open and free to the public each day the building is open. The one exception is the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, where show tickets are very affordable — ranging in price from just $3 to $7. For the overall experience you get, this is genuinely one of the best free things to do in California.
When is the best time to visit? The building is busiest on weekends, during summer and holiday periods, and at sunset. Arriving about an hour before sunset is ideal unless you plan to focus on paid exhibits — and visiting on a weekday is strongly recommended, as weekend crowds at sunset can be intense. Planetarium tickets in particular sell out quickly, so plan ahead.
What about parking? Parking is widely noted as one of the bigger logistical challenges. The biggest downside is parking — plan for a bit of a hassle or use a rideshare. If you’re on a budget and can walk as far as a mile uphill, there is free parking on the road and in the lot around the Greek Theatre. The DASH Observatory Bus is another reliable option that drops visitors right at the grounds.
Is it good for kids? Absolutely. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium presents world-class scientific educational programming for audiences of all ages. The hands-on exhibits, the crackling Tesla coil demonstrations, the giant telescope, and the stunning outdoor grounds make this a genuinely enriching experience for children and adults alike. It checks the rare box of being educational without ever feeling like homework.
What are the hours? The observatory is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m., and on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The observatory is closed on Mondays.
Griffith Observatory
📍 2800 E. Observatory Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Website: https://griffithobservatory.org
