Griffith Observatory Reopens

Park observatory can be used as an education took for children.

by Jennifer Fitzpacktrick

It's back! After a four-year renovation and expansion project, the Griffith Observatory will open once again to the public on Friday, November 3rd. It's better than ever and ready to make good on its promise to inspire the future "one imagination at a time".

I had the extraordinary privilege of attending a press conference announcing the grand reopening and got a preview of what thousands of thrilled families will get to experience from now on. "It is with great pride that we announce the November 3rd reopening date for Griffith Observatory, which has been an icon in Los Angeles for over 70 years," says Mayor Villaraigosa (as quoted in the official press release). "At this world-class observatory, Angelenos, young and old, can learn about the stars and planets, and begin to comprehend the limitless nature of the universe...truly symbolic of the limitless possibilities of this great City."

The weather was just beautiful when we arrived, and the architecture of the main building was breath taking. Over the last four years, the renovation has added 40,000 square feet of space and includes a large, multi-level exhibit gallery, a 200-seat presentation theater, and a new exhibit program featuring more than 60 new exhibits. If you thought that was enough, they've also added a classroom, cafe, bookstore, and new entrances, elevators and ramps to improve access in and around the building. As always, the view is stupendous. You can truly experience the breadth and depth of this wonderful city we live in as you sit outside the restaurant. On a clear day, you can still see all the way to the ocean.

I'm glad they've updated all the old exhibits and brought in brand new ones. It brought back a lot of memories of when my parents would take my sister and I up there on clear summer nights. One of our favorite exhibits was the scales. You could find out how much you'd weigh on Earth and then how much on Pluto, Jupiter, Mars etc. It was great fun to see that you'd way 500 lbs on one planet than 4 lbs on another. Back in the day, they had the old scales you'd find in a doctor's office. Now, you just stand on the marble floor and everything is automated and digital! They also still have the huge pendulum that hangs in the foyer when you first walk in. As a kid, I could stare at the slow swinging pendulum for hours. There was something very mesmerizing about the slow back and forth motion of that heavy swinging pendulum hanging from the tall ceiling. It just blows my mind that you can see proof of the earth's rotation right in front of you.

It is absolutely unbelievable what they have accomplished with this renovation. The Griffith Observatory is certainly an extra special, not-too-be-missed L.A. icon that I am confident will remain so for many years to come. Make sure your children get to witness this historic landmark and learn more about our unique place in the Universe.

For more information, please visit www.griffithobs.org.