Celebrating Historic Griffith Park's 125th Anniversary | Los Angeles Conservancy
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Celebrating Historic Griffith Park's 125th Anniversary

Thank you for joining the L.A. Conservancy, the City of L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks, and many more organizations and partners on Saturday, November 13, to explore and celebrate our City's beloved backyard—Griffith Park!

Have you ever been to the Old Zoo in Griffith Park or the newly planted native micro-forest? Have you ever hiked to Amir's Garden and wondered who it was named for, or who built the Griffith Observatory? Did you know that the Merry-Go-Round inspired the creation of Disney Land, or that a Tongva village once flourished where Fern Dell is? 

Many of us visit Griffith Park all the time-- for birthday parties or barbeques or bike rides-- but we may not know much about its extraordinary history, flora and fauna, or the buildings, people, and entities connected to it. To celebrate its 125th anniversary, we invite you to explore the nooks and crannies of Griffith Park and to learn about its past, present, and future as you go.

On Saturday, November 13, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, volunteer educators from the L.A. Conservancy and 30 different partnering organizations were dispersed throughout Griffith Park to share the stories of specific sites. 

Funding has been provided by California Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

 

A good place to begin this self-guided exploration is near the Merry-Go-Round, the event's central hub. Free public parking for the Merry-Go-Round is located at 4730 Crystal Springs Drive. Eventgoers can enjoy food trucks, educational activities, entertainment, and more at this location, and can pick up their maps showing other sites available to explore in the park. 

A special birthday ceremony at 11:30 a.m. near the Merry-Go-Round will include remarks from Council District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman and Tongva Cultural Educator and Artist Craig Torres, as well as a cake-cutting!

We encourage taking public transportation! Transit into Griffith Park is a great option and is currently free until January 10, 2022. 

Ride your bicycle to Griffith Park or rent a bike from the Rec and Park concession stand. Use this custom-made route by Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. 

Metro Line 96 runs directly through Griffith Park's Park Center, where the 125th event's hub will be located. 

The Metro Red Line connects Los Angeles to the DASH OBSERVATORY shuttle stop.

The LADOT DASH bus to the Griffith Observatory runs from the Metro Station at Sunset/Vermont beginning at 10am. From here the bus comes directly up into the park with stops at the Greek Theatre, Hollywood Sign Hiking Trail and Observatory. 

The Parkline Shuttle is back just for this event! The Parkline will run throughout the park, stopping at various locations throughout the day. 

All transit is free! Click here for more information about public transit: https://www.laparks.org/griffithpark/planyourtrip. 

 

  • There is no charge to participate in this event

  • Prior registration may be required for some programs

  • The event will occur rain or shine.

  • Appropriate for all ages (see the soon-to-be-published map for kid-friendly activities!)

  • Dress for an outdoor, daytime event, and for walking on uneven ground

  • Masks are required when visiting indoor facilities at Griffith Park

  • For information on getting to Griffith Park, please visit their website.

Featured Location(s)

Postcard collection of Los Angeles Conservancy

Griffith Park

Griffith Park is the heart and soul of Los Angeles and in 2009 was designated as an Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) to recognize its significance and ensure its long-term preservation.