When you visit the southern California you can feast your eyes on the stars through Griffith Observatory. Griffith Observatory is a very popular educational resource and icon in Los Angeles. It is also leading the nation in public astronomy, it is one of California’s more popular attractions for both locals and tourists alike. The Observatory is 1,134ft above sea level in Griffith Park.
Admission is free at this public attraction, as it is owned and both operated by the City of Los Angeles.More people visit the Griffith Observatory than any other public observatory in the world. Regarded as one of the more popular and important educational attractions open to the public which invites people of all ages to explore the space around them.
Griffith J. Griffith donated the land for the Park in 1896 and the funds for the observatory, specifically designated that the Park and Observatory would be given to the City of Los Angeles with a provision it remains open to the public and free of charge. It opened in 1935 and was one of the first known institutions in the United States to provide the public with open access to science and was the third planetarium in the United States.
Since its construction, it has been visited by nearly 100 million people from all over the world. The facility allows the visitors and guests to the observatory to have a chance to observe the open skies through free telescope viewing that is open to the public for use when the building is open and clear evening skies are present.
The observatory also hosts regular events; one Saturday of every month volunteers bring their telescopes for a public star parties. Dozens of science and astronomy exhibits are open to the public daily as well as engaging demonstrations. The Observatory is an important resource available to the schools in the area as it offers a unique field trip experience in astronomy and science education through their school programs. A visit to this amazing attraction allows guests to look through the scientific telescopes, explore the generous and enriching exhibits, and enjoy some of the best views Los Angeles has to offer, including the famous Hollywood Sign.
The planetarium offers up to 10 live shows to the public daily. The programs featured rotate and new programs are added regularly. You may also enjoy a fun, science-themed program showing in the large theater. Hungry? The Griffith Observatory boasts a nice cafe with a chance to relax, enjoy a refresh mentor meal with options for dessert prepared by the world-famous Wolfgang Puck restaurant. Take a virtual tour of the observatory online through its website. And the Weekly sky report is a great resource for information on the Los Angeles evening sky scene. Recent renovations were completed in 2006 which offers the public an advanced and modern facility to enjoy. Before you leave, don’t forget to visit the Griffith Observatory gift shop, which offers astronomy, science, and space-themed gifts including;books, clothing, toys and other treasures. Some items area also available for purchase online through the online gift shop. Fun for the whole family, a visit to the Griffith Observatory is an experience that people all of ages appreciate.