Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory stands on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. From its terraces visitors can see downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, the Pacific Ocean on clear days and the Hollywood Sign on the hill nearby.

The observatory was paid for by the will of Griffith J. Griffith, who gave the park land to the city and wanted an observatory open to everyone. It opened in 1935 in an Art Deco building, and in line with his wishes, entry to the building and grounds has always been free. A major renovation and expansion was completed in 2006.

Inside are exhibits on astronomy and space, a Foucault pendulum, a Tesla coil and a large image of the night sky. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium shows paid planetarium programmes under its dome. The Zeiss refracting telescope on the roof is used for free public viewing on clear evenings, and volunteers set up more telescopes on the lawn.

The observatory is closed on Mondays. It opens from noon to 10 pm Tuesday to Friday and from 10 am to 10 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Parking on the hill fills quickly and is paid, so many visitors use the DASH Observatory bus from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station. Sunset is the busiest time.

Rebel Without a Cause, La La Land and the James Dean bust

Few buildings in Los Angeles have appeared in more films. The 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause put the observatory on screen, and La La Land returned to it in 2016, which is why many visitors look for the bust of James Dean on the west lawn.