The Exhibit Program at Griffith Observatory

Sparking imagination and inquiry through exposure to the awe and wonder inherent in astronomy is the goal of the new Griffith Observatory exhibit program. Each visitor is cast in the role of an observer and provided with opportunities to see and do real observing in authentic environments. By exploring fundamental questions: what do we observe, how do we observe it, and why it is important ? the exhibits prompt visitors to ponder their own relationship with the universe.

C & G Partners LLC designed the exhibit program and content between 2000-2006. Maltbie, Inc. fabricated and installed most of the exhibits between 2004-2006. For more information regarding how the exhibit program was conceived and developed, please click here.

Griffith Observatory's major exhibit areas each focus on a unique aspect of observation. To go to the complete page for each exhibit area, click on the name of the area.

Hall of the Eye

The Hall of the Eye illustrates the nature and progress of human observation of the sky and the tools used for that exploration. This exhibit gallery focuses on how people have observed the sky and the often profound impact those observations have had on people and society. Exhibits in the gallery and adjacent alcoves include:

Using the Sky
Extending the Eye
Observing in California
Beyond the Visible
Tesla Coil
Camera Obscura

Hall of the Sky

The Hall of the Sky establishes each person's connection to the primary objects in our sky: the Moon and the Sun. The end of the hall is anchored by one of the largest public solar telescopes in the United States. Exhibits in the gallery and nearby alcoves include:

Coelostat And Solar Telescopes (white-light image, spectrohelioscope, spectroscope)
The Active Sun: Recent spacecraft data illustrate the power and dynamics of our Sun.
Our Sun Is a Star
Elements
Supernova (including spectroscopes)
West Alcoves (i.e., Day & Night, Seasons, Moon Phases, etc.,)

W. M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda

At the nexus of the original building, the restored W. M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda celebrates the intersection of science and mythology, earth and sky, and the man whose vision brought the Observatory into being. Exhibits include:

Foucault Pendulum
Hugo Ballin Murals
Griffith J. Griffith Exhibit

Cosmic Connection

The Cosmic Connection, the corridor linking the historic building above with the new Gunther Depths of Space below, provides the transition from ground-based and more familiar astronomy to a new realm of cosmic perspective. The main element in this passageway is a 150-foot timeline of the universe whimsically composed of celestial-themed jewelry in the glass case that lines the corridor. Features in this area include:

Cosmic Connection
Wormhole Stairway
Center Of Gravity (information desk, donor wall, dedication plaque)
Entrance to administrative office areas

Gunther Depths of Space

The large new Richard and Lois Gunther Depths of Space exhibit gallery is activated by the recent transformation of cosmic perspective that began when people first ventured into space. No longer is observation and understanding of the sky bonded to the ground and framed by the horizon. The Gunther Depths of Space is filled with exhibits that are as monumental and unique as the ideas they illustrate:

The Planets
Our Earth
Our Solar System
Other Worlds, Other Stars
Milky Way Galaxy
Iconic Universe
A Familiar Star Pattern
Our Address
The Big Picture
The Big Picture-Related Exhibits (Field Guides, Depth of Space, Einstein)

The naming of the Gunther Depths of Space exhibit gallery recognizes a generous contribution from southland natives Richard and Lois Gunther.

Edge of Space Mezzanine

The Edge of Space occupies the mezzanine area in the new Richard and Lois Gunther Depths of Space exhibit gallery. It provides visitors with an experience that bridges the more familiar Earth-bound orientation toward the universe with a more cosmic perspective informed by the most sophisticated astronomical instruments ever built. The zone showcases samples of the universe that come to Earth from space or that we acquire through space exploration. Exhibits and features on the mezzanine include:

The Big Picture-Related Exhibits (observing telescopes)
Pieces of the Sky
Cloud and Spark Chambers
Our Moon
Cosmic News
Entrances to Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater

Exterior Exhibits

Visitors don't need to enter Griffith Observatory to become observers; the exterior of the building offers a mix of compelling favorites and new features to draw the eye and imagination. Exhibits and features outside the building include:

Astronomers Monument
Solar System Lawn Model
Sunset and Moonset Radial Lines
West Observation Terraces
East Observation Terrace
Rebel Without a Cause Monument
Roof Observation Deck