Long ago, before it became the park we know today, Griffith Park was a part of a big piece of land called Rancho Los Feliz, which belonged to the Spanish. But what’s even more interesting is that this park got its name from a person named Colonel Griffith J. Griffith. He was born in a place called Glamorganshire in South Wales and came to the United States in 1865. Here, he got very lucky and made a lot of money by guessing where gold was hidden in the ground.
In 1882, Griffith moved to a city called Los Angeles and decided to buy a huge piece of land, about 4,071 acres! This land stretched from the northern part of another place called Pueblo de Los Angeles. Then, on December 16, 1896, Griffith, who really cared about the city and its people, gave away 3,015 acres of his land as a special gift for Christmas. This gift was like giving the city five whole square miles of land! He didn’t ask for anything in return – well, almost.
He said something very important on that day: “This place should be a fun and relaxing spot for everyone, not just the rich and fancy folks. I feel like it’s my duty to make Los Angeles a happier, cleaner, and better place to live. This is my way of giving back to the community that’s been good to me.”
Since that big gift from Griffith, more land was added to the park. The city bought some land, and other people gave away their land, making the park even bigger than before. Griffith J. Griffith passed away on July 7, 1919, but he left a lot of money to make his dreams come true. He wanted a big amphitheater in the style of ancient Greece (the Greek Theatre, finished in 1930) and an observatory and science building (Griffith Observatory, finished in 1935).
Today, Griffith Park is a place that reminds us of one special person’s vision and dedication – Griffith Jenkins Griffith. He was part of the Park Commission, a person who loved to give to good causes, and he really wanted people to enjoy parks and have fun in Los Angeles.
How to Get to Griffith Park:
Griffith Park is not too far from a big freeway called the Golden State Freeway (I-5). If you want to get there, you can go between two roads called Los Feliz Boulevard on the south and the Ventura Freeway (SR 134) on the north. If you’re coming from I-5, you can use off-ramps called Los Feliz Boulevard, Griffith Park (it goes right into the park), and Zoo Drive. If you’re driving on SR 134 going east, you can use the Forest Lawn Drive or Victory Boulevard offramps. If you’re on SR 134 going west, you can take Zoo Drive or Forest Lawn Drive. Once you leave the freeways, just follow the signs to the park.
Fun Things to Do in and Near Griffith Park:
