Both the park and the observatory are named after the same man, Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, who made his fortune in mining. Griffith donated land to the city of Los Angeles to become a park, then, instead after shooting his wife in the head (she lived), he made a large cash donation to fund a publlic observatory within the park. Too bad the tradition hasn't continued; imagine the great public works O.J. Simpson, Robert Blake and Phil Spector could have sponsored.
The observatory was closed for a few years for a major renovation and only reopened last year. Not only was the exterior restored to its original and beautiful Art Deco apperance, but an entire basement level was excavated beneath the front lawn.
Parking is still an issue, though, but at least the walk from the overflow parking area has a view:
The restored exterior:
Tessie arrives with her entourage:
Tessie didn't take long to figure out the Foucault pendulum in the central exhibit hall:
Then it was on to the periodic table. We noticed, after Tessie left it, that the plutonium sample was missing. We fear she may be plotting something.
Then it was on to her latest achievement: stairs. These steps were low enough that she could manage them on her feet rather than having to rely on her hands as well. She's really becoming quite mobile, hence the harness.
Then it was on to exploring the Virgo Cluster, depicted as part of an enormous mural in the new basement level:
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