While well known by locals, Griffith Park is not always high on the list of tourists visiting Los Angeles. But it should be! High above the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, the park offers a relatively quiet respite from the chaos below. It also provides the opportunity for the best views of the city and an excellent shot of the Hollywood sign. Griffith Park is a uniquely Los Angeles icon where you can not just see, but experience, the diversity of topography and landscape that makes LA so unique among major world cities. Join us on the best tour of Los Angeles and see why Griffith Park is one of our favorite stops!
The park is named after Griffith J. Griffith (seriously!). He donated the original 3,000 acres to the city in 1896 which eventually would grow to encompass 4,300 acres, making it one of the largest public parks in North America. On the grounds, Griffith built an amphitheater (now known as the Greek) and the Observatory. From 1912 to 1966 it was also home to the Griffith Zoo – the remnants of which can still be found in the park.
The Griffith Observatory sits atop Mount Hollywood looking down on the city and the sprawl below. Opening to the public in 1935, the Observatory quickly became an LA landmark. It was also the backdrop for numerous famous movies, including The Terminator, The Rocketeer, and of course La La Land. But the Observatory was built for scientific and educational purposes. Mr. Griffith specified that the building would be open to the public free of charge and that it would serve to educate the citizens of Los Angeles and any visitors from around the world. That remains the case today.
