Los Angeles’ most iconic landmark is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
A birthday celebration at the Griffith Observatory on Wednesday was complete with a cake and cupcakes. KNX News’ Karen Adams spoke with Dr. Ed Krupp about what makes Griffith the most visited public observatory on the planet.
“First, of course, is location, location, location, location,” he said. “Best spot for a public observatory on the planet. Nothing like it. Second, the weather in Los Angeles, hard to match. Third, the population base. There's a lot of people here, and a lot of people come here.”
And of course, it’s free and open to the public – stipulations by Griffith J. Griffith, the improbably named mining magnate who left the money to build the observatory in his will.
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“There's been a lot of change in astronomy, in Los Angeles, and everything else over the decades, but I think the importance of 90 years is that Griffith Observatory – as a landmark, as an icon, as the hood ornament of Los Angeles – is actually a symbol that tells people the city endures,” Krupp said.
As part of the birthday celebration, the Griffith Observatory will livestream the southernmost moon rise of the month starting at 9:52 p.m. Wednesday night. Watch it here.
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