Souvenirs from Griffith Observatory
It was my first time in Los Angeles and we were fantasizing about a future in the city. We wanted to sample the west coast before we committed to shedding our midwestern lives. High on our list of places to see was Griffith Observatory. Our Uber criss crossed up a canyon road as we focused our attention out the window. The constantly shifting pavement provided new perspectives the entire way. Suddenly we arrived and were planted at the curb of the bustling Griffith Observatory lawn. It’s a formal building and its singularity is stark. Nothing behind it but a cloudless blue sky. It appeared as some town hall to a city above the clouds.
We blended in with the other tourists and overheard conversations we didn’t understand. Everyone shared the same tones of reverence. We circled the manicured grounds and were greeted with a hazeless view of urban wilderness. We lucked out and were shown a Los Angeles that almost glowed with promise. I’d never been in a city so big. And now I was looking at a city so small. The downtown skyscrapers seemed anything but. Closer to us I could make out the salt and pepper pattern of houses and trees. There was more green than I would have thought. But also more concrete than I could imagine. I had never lived in a place without seasons. I had never been on a highway with eight lanes of deadlocked traffic. I had never lived in a place with so many strangers. After thoroughly scanning the sprawl, I had the delusion that this would somehow be easy. The future felt overwhelming but the view was reassuring. I thought if all of these people could do it, why not me?
The Observatory was a result of Colonel Griffith J. Griffith’s pursuit to make astronomy available to the people of LA. Griffith, a wealthy philanthropist, fell in love with the stars while looking through the telescope of the nearby Mt. Wilson Observatory. While Mt. Wilson was buried away in the Angeles National Forest, Griffith saw an opportunity to build an accessible outlook in the heart of LA. A trust was formed to oversee the construction and implementation of the observatory. After the formal opening on May 14, 1935, the trust handed the keys over to the City of Los Angeles. Griffith’s vision of a public observatory was complete.
Griffith understood the importance of accessible green space. It’s not uncommon to find ourselves in spaces deprived of fresh air and sunlight. The absence of which can be the source of anxiety, stress, and irritation. Los Angeles is lucky to have a protected public park where anyone can reconnect. Nature gives you the space to notice your thoughts. The view from the Observatory's deck allows you to see the system that we all play a part in. Despite our differences, we blend together from a distance. It’s all one soup.
I visited the Observatory recently and talked to a few of its visitors.
Reina & Jake
What brings you here today?
Reina: I live down the hillside so I come up here frequently. Almost every day.
Jake: I'm just getting some exercise.
Why do you think Griffith Park is important to LA?
Reina: I think LA lacks green space in general and people really value having land to connect to nature for a minute because we're surrounded by cement and madness on a daily basis. It's like a moment of sanity for people here.
What's the importance of nature to you guys?
Jake: Oh gosh yes, it’s very important.
Reina: Soothes the soul.
How do you guys feel right now currently how are you feeling
Reina: Rejuvenated after the hike.
Jake: Sweaty.
David
What brings you here today?
David: I traveled here from Vancouver, BC Canada, for a punk rock show and that was over with so I decided to come up here.
Is this your first time here in La?
David: First time ever.
What do you think of Griffith Observatory so far?
David: Other than the fog, it's beautiful. I went for a hike and I smudged. Being indigenous, that's what we do. I just gave the ancestors a little bit of a thank you and an offering. It's a good day.
Could you go into that?
David: I brought some California white sage, we burn it in a shell, something that's natural and I have my feather with it and I give the offering. I burn it, that smoke goes directly to our ancestors and I said thanks for the day. This is a beautiful area.
Is it important to be in nature for that sort of thing?
David: You could do it anywhere. But when you're out in nature, it's nice to give the offering. You’ve got to give thanks for all the four elements, the four directions that we all come from. We're all one people really.
What is the importance of nature to you personally?
David: Without it, we're doomed. Humans, the species itself we’re pretty bad on nature. Protected areas, waters, everything like that, it's of vital importance. So being out here, I just ask that we get at least a little bit of forgiveness for our silliness.
Manuel
What are your thoughts on Griffith Park?
Manuel: It's a nice area. It's nothing like being downtown. Right now the weather isn't too bad. It’s not too sunny, it's not too cold. We're in the area. Might as well make a quick stop.
What's your favorite part about being in nature?
Manuel: I just like seeing the greenery, smelling the fresh air after smelling so much gas and diesel. Coming up here in the mountains, hearing the birds, seeing the animals crawl around. It's just a change in atmosphere.
Do you think it's important to have green spaces like this in LA?
Manuel: It's a nice change of pace for the people that live here. It can be very fast-paced, very work oriented and then being able to come out here and eat [and] put your mind at ease. It's a nice little spot.
What are you guys feeling right now at this moment?
Manuel: Relaxed. My mind is clear. I don't have to be thinking of so many things. Just looking out, looking over the city. Sometimes it's just nice coming out and cleaning up your mind.
October 19, 2024
