The Griffith Observatory is the most visited public observatory in the world and the best place to see the Hollywood Sign — a white Art Deco building perched on the south slope of Mount Hollywood that provides free telescopic views of the night sky, planetarium shows, and a panoramic view of Los Angeles that stretches from downtown's glass towers to the Pacific Ocean. The observatory has been a Los Angeles landmark since 1935, appearing in 'Rebel Without a Cause,' 'La La Land,' and virtually every film that needs an establishing shot of the LA basin.
The Hollywood Sign, visible from the observatory's terrace, sits on Mount Lee 4 kilometres to the northwest. Originally erected in 1923 as an advertisement for a real estate development called 'Hollywoodland' (the 'land' was removed in 1949), the 13.7-metre-tall letters have become the most recognisable sign in the world and the symbol of an industry that turned a Southern California hillside into the global capital of entertainment. The sign is on restricted land and cannot be approached directly, but the observatory provides the best publicly accessible viewing angle.
Griffith Park, surrounding the observatory, is the largest urban wilderness park in the United States — 4,310 acres of chaparral-covered hills, hiking trails, and the kind of open space that makes LA's urban sprawl tolerable. The trails to the Hollywood Sign (via the Brush Canyon or Mount Hollywood trails) take 2-3 hours round trip and provide close-up views of the sign alongside panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley and the LA basin.
Verified Facts
The Griffith Observatory has been open since 1935
The Hollywood Sign was erected in 1923 as a real estate advertisement
Griffith Park covers 4,310 acres, the largest urban wilderness park in the US
The observatory appeared in 'Rebel Without a Cause' and 'La La Land'
Get walking directions
2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
