How the world-famous Griffith Observatory became a huge Hollywood star

A white building with a large dome in the center lit up at night with city lights behind it.

Next year will mark the 90th anniversary of the Griffith Observatory, that stately Art Deco landmark poised atop the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, and the grand old lady has never been more popular, especially when seen in blockbuster movies and TV series.

Noted for its bright Beaux-Arts/Art Deco concrete exterior, distinctive copper-paneled domes, interior marble floors, exotic woods, bronze metalwork and travertine panels, this wondrous window to the cosmos had been visited by over 85 million people in its long history.