It also neatly pairs up with the Greek Theatre which was built nearby in 1929 as an open-air auditorium with a capacity of almost 6,000 seats. The architects added a number of touches of Greek revival to the contemporary Art Deco style, such as fluting from the Greek classical orders. Note the decorative design elements on the walls of the building. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times. (1934) **- View showing construction workers standing on scaffolding around the large dome of Griffith Observatory. Lower-than-usual prices caused by the Great Depression enabled the selection of the finest materials of the day for the interior walls, floors, and finishes, making the building both beautiful and durable. A major earthquake in Long Beach in March 1933 - just as construction plans were being finalized - led the architects to abandon the planned terra cotta exterior in favor of strengthening and thickening the building's concrete walls. Griffith Observatory was shaped not only by the minds of scientists but also by the times in which it was built. (1934)* - The construction of Griffith Observatory in the final phases. In his will Griffith donated funds to build an observatory, exhibit hall, and planetarium on the donated land. Construction rubble is scattered around the Observatory's foundation.ģ,015 acres of land surrounding the observatory was donated to the City of Los Angeles by Colonel Griffith J. (1933) * - A man sits on a steel girder on the half-completed dome of the Griffith Observatory as other construction workers are on scaffolds on the building behind the dome. Austin based on preliminary sketches by Russell W. (1933) * - Work begins on the Griffith Observatory dome.Ĭonstruction began on June 20, 1933, using a design developed by architect John C. Griffith saw the rings of Saturn or another celestial object with the then-new 60-inch reflector telescope, but we can be sure that it inspired his vision of a world-class observatory for the people of Los Angeles, allowing the masses a glimpse of the heaven. What he saw transformed him, and would put Los Angeles at the forefront of a movement to make astronomy the people's science. Wilson about 1908, a short, powerfully built man with a handlebar mustache looked through the largest telescope in the world. Austin for a science facility. He later went on to design the iconic Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. (1932) ^ - Sketch made by architect John C. If all mankind could look through that telescope, it would change the world."
After a visit to Pasadena's giant 60-inch Hale telescope, built in 1908-then the largest in the world-Griffith's reaction to looking through the lens at the sky was: "Man's sense of values ought to be revised. Griffith, who also donated the Greek Theatre. The Observatory was the dream of the Welsh philanthropist Col. The Griffith Observatory is an Art Deco icon of Los Angeles that opened doors in 1935 and is located up on Mount Hollywood. Griffith Observatory – Sketch by David Webb *
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