Griffith Observatory

Griffith J. Griffith, a mining businessman, donated more than 3,000 acres of hillside land to the city of Los Angeles in 1896 and later specified in his will that an observatory be built on the property so ordinary residents, not just professional astronomers, could look through a telescope. Architects John C. Austin and Frederic M. Ashley developed the final design from preliminary sketches by Russell W. Porter, and construction began in 1933, two years before the building opened.

Inside, the historic 12-inch Zeiss telescope has been used by millions of visitors over the decades, a record that has made it one of the most viewed telescopes in the world. Other original instruments still in use include a Foucault pendulum that visibly demonstrates the Earth's rotation and a Tesla coil built in 1910. The observatory's dramatic setting also made it a filming location for Rebel Without a Cause in 1955, cementing its place in the city's popular image.

For newcomers still building their English, the observatory works well for a first outing, since the telescopes, pendulum, and scale models communicate mostly through direct observation rather than long text panels. The complex sits inside Griffith Park, so families often combine a visit with a walk on the surrounding trails or a stop at the nearby Hollywood Sign viewpoint. Because admission to the building itself is free, it is also an easy destination to return to on a clear night.