Griffith Observatory, exterior view of the west and central domes during construction, Los Angeles, circa 1934-1935

Description

Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds., Text from negative sleeve: L.A. Parks, Griffith - observatory, View of the south faces of the west and central domes of the Griffith Observatory during construction with the skeleton of steel girders of the domes visible. Three workers are on the central dome and two workers are at the base of the drum next to wooden supports for concrete molds for the pilaster finials. Wooden scaffolding is visible along the tops of the central dome buttresses. The original concrete surface is visible; consistent with other similar architecture of the day, the Observatory's concrete walls were left unpainted in the 1930s and 1940s., The Griffith Observatory was created using a design developed by architects John C. Austin and Frederick M. Ashley based on preliminary sketches by Russell W. Porter., Handwritten on negative: Griffith Pk. Planetarium