Griffith Observatory: The City's Free Window on the Universe
By Giovanna Salas
This article is part of Free in Los Angeles, Heart of Hollywood Magazine's series on the museums across the region that open their doors at no charge.
Perched on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, Griffith Observatory is one of the most recognizable buildings in Los Angeles and one of its great civic gifts. It describes itself as a free-admission facility, and it has welcomed the public since it opened on May 14, 1935.
A Gift to the City
Griffith J. Griffith donated the land for Griffith Park in 1896 and, in his 1919 will, set out his plan for an observatory open to all. Today the building is owned by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and draws about 1.6 million visitors a year. A $93 million renovation reopened it on November 2, 2006.
When it opened, the Observatory housed only the third planetarium in the United States. Its Zeiss 12-inch refracting telescope, the Observatory says, has been looked through by some 8 million people, more than any other telescope on Earth. Film lovers will also know the building from Rebel Without a Cause, which the Observatory itself screened for audiences this October.
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Plan Your Visit
Admission: Free to the building, exhibits and telescopes. No reservation is needed.
Planetarium shows: $12 for adults 13 to 54; $10 for seniors 55 and over, students and teachers; $8 for children 5 to 12; free for children under 5. Tickets are sold only at the Observatory, and only for that day's shows.
Hours: Tuesday to Friday, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Address: 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Parking: Paid parking is enforced during opening hours, pay stations take credit cards only, and rates rise during peak season and holidays.
Transit: The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus runs from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for 50 cents (25 cents for seniors and riders with disabilities).
Website: https://griffithobservatory.org
Details were checked against the museum's official website in September 2026. Hours, admission policies and exhibition dates are set by each museum and may change, so please confirm on the official website before you go.
Sources
Griffith Observatory: https://griffithobservatory.org
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