LA Griffith Park

This is a close-up view of the Griffith Observatory at night - and makes an interesting Starbucks Card for those that have, or will visit this interesting park. Released early September 2016 in the greater LA metro area. Griffith Observatory is located in Los Angeles, California, sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in LA. It commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The observatory is a popular tourist attraction with an excellent view of the Hollywood Sign, and an extensive array of space and science -related displays. Since the observatory's opening in 1935, admission has been free, in accordance with the benefactor's will, after whom the observatory is named – Griffith J. Griffith. The observatory closed in 2002 for renovation and a major expansion of exhibit space. It reopened to the public on November 3, 2006, retaining its art deco exterior. The $93 million renovation, paid largely by a public bond issue, restored the building, as well as replaced the aging planetarium dome. The building was expanded underground, with completely new exhibits, a café, gift shop, and the new Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. A wildfire in the hills came dangerously close to the observatory on May 10, 2007. On May 25, 2008, the Observatory offered visitors live coverage of the Phoenix landing on Mars .