View of Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California

© Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

View of Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California

With downtown Los Angeles in purple shades to the southeast, Griffith Observatory’s domes and Art Deco façade stand out in the foreground. The price of admission to this science-celebrating public space is the same today as it was when it opened in 1935: free. The building and grounds are such an iconic part of the Los Angeles landscape that the space has been used as a filming location for dozens of movies and television shows. Most recently, it was the setting of a dance sequence in La La Land, which has been nominated for a record-equalling 14 awards at tonight’s Oscars.