GRIFFITH PARK

Description

Essentials about Griffith Park in brief

Covering an area of over 17 square kilometers, Griffith Park is the largest city park in Los Angeles and one of the largest urban parks in the USA. It is located at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, about ten kilometers north of downtown LA. Griffith Park is one of the most diverse inner-city natural landscapes in the United States. Not only is it a great place for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, but it’s also home to plenty of cultural and scientific attractions, including the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the outdoor Greek Theatre. Last but not least, Griffith Park offers breathtaking views over the mega-city of Los Angeles.

The history of Griffith Park

Historically, Griffith Park traces its origins to Colonel Griffith, who purchased a farm site near the Los Angeles River in 1882 and initially established an ostrich farm there. At that time, ostrich feathers were a popular material for making ladies’ hats. The real purpose of the ostrich farm, however, was to attract Los Angeles residents to the building lots Griffith was selling in the area. After the building boom died down, Griffith donated twelve square miles of his acreage to the city of Los Angeles in 1896.

After serving a prison sentence for aggravated assault on his wife, Griffith attempted to finance the construction of a planetarium, an observatory, and an outdoor stage in the park he founded. However, because of his tarnished reputation, the city of Los Angeles refused to accept the money offered.

After Griffith’s death in 1919, the city of Los Angeles began to gradually implement the originally planned projects after all. The open-air stage, the so-called Greek Theatre, was completed in 1930, the Griffith Observatory in 1935, and the park gradually grew to its present size through further land donations and purchase agreements.

The landscape of Griffith Park

Unlike Central Park in New York City or Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Griffith Park in LA is not a meticulously landscaped urban park. Only small parts of the park are landscaped. Rather, the majority of the park consists of rugged mountain and hill terrain and steep canyons.

For this very reason, Griffith Park is an Eldorado for all outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers can stretch their feet on over 80 kilometers of trails in the park. Mountain bikers also love the unpaved trails of Griffith Park. And if you want, you can even explore the park on horseback. On guided horseback rides departing from Sunset Ranch, you can not only experience the wonderful wilderness, but also enjoy magnificent views of the megacity of Los Angeles.

The attractions in Griffith Park

Besides its great nature, many visitors come to Griffith Park for the many attractions. Wild West fans can learn about the history of the Wild West at the Autry Museum of the American West in the northeast corner of the park. Right next door is the nearly 50-acre Los Angeles Zoo, home to some 2,000 animals. And railroad fans shouldn’t miss the Travel Town train museum, located on the northern edge of Griffith Park, where historic locomotives and rail cars can be seen.

Probably the most famous building in Griffith Park is the Griffith Observatory with its Hall of Science. The observatory is not only worth a visit for hobby astronomers, but also for all those who want to enjoy the best view of the mega-city Los Angeles. From the visitor platform of the Griffith Observatory you have a phenomenal view over the gigantic expanse of LA. On a clear day, you can even see Catalina Island a good 40 kilometers off the coast in the Pacific. And especially in the evening, when Los Angeles turns into a huge sea of lights, the view from here simply can’t be topped.

Within Griffith Park is also the unofficial landmark of the city of Los Angeles, namely the world-famous Hollywood Sign. Visible from afar, the white lettering is located on the southern slope of the 521 meter high Mount Lee. Unfortunately, the Hollywood Sign can only be viewed from a distance, because Mount Lee itself is private property (which it is better not to enter in the USA).