Griffith Observatory by the numbers
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2 Number of planetariums built in the U.S. before Griffith. (Chicago and Philadelphia came first in the early 1930s.)
Nearly 70 million Estimated number of observatory visitors since its 1935 opening.
7 million Estimated number of visitors who have looked through the 12-inch Zeiss telescope on the roof.
75 Feet in diameter of the planetarium’s dome.
1,134 Observatory’s height in feet above sea level.
30,000 Cubic yards of dirt dug up to make way for the new bottom level.
3 Number of projectors that have served in the planetarium since opening (one from 1935 to 1964, another from 1964 to 2002, and the current one).
4 Number of directors who have served in the observatory’s top job since opening (one from 1935 to 1958, another from 1958 to 1969, another from 1969 to 1974, and the current one).
50 Estimated number of astronomically themed ties owned by director Edwin Krupp.
200 Number of leaks in the building before renovation, as estimated by Krupp.
26 million Number of non-government dollars raised by the Friends of the Observatory toward the $93-million renovation.
8,000 to 10,000 The building’s daily visitor capacity, depending on hours.
0 Observatory-adjacent parking spaces during opening months.
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