It is located on the south side of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, 300 meters above sea level. The observatory is known for its science exhibitions and planetarium and can be visited by tourists and residents of the city. The panorama offers a view of the entire region between downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
The white domed building was completed on May 14, 1935 to plans by John C. Austin and Russell W. Porter in a blend of Art Deco and Egyptian styles. After four years of renovation, it reopened on November 2, 2006. 70 million people have visited the observatory since it opened.
In addition to the observatory, the building houses a planetarium and various exhibition rooms. Among the exhibits are rocks from Mars, the moon and meteorites, a model of the Hubble Space Telescope, a seismograph and a 100-kilogram Foucault pendulum.