Astronomers Monument - Los Angeles, CA
Posted by: Metro2
N 34° 07.131 W 118° 18.021
11S E 380079 N 3776097
This monument is located near the entrance to the famous Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Waymark Code: WM8MPT
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 04/19/2010
Views: 12
This monument was a WPA project and recognizes the biggest names in astronomical achievements: Copernicus, Galileo, William Hershel, Hipparchus & Kepler.
The remarks from the Smithsonian Inventory site indicate (
visit link) :
" Funded through the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) and the City of Los Angeles. The Women's Auxiliary of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce funded the construction materials. The PWAP sponsored a competition, and on March 13, 1934, the Los Angeles Parks Commission chose the monument design by Archibald Garner. Five local sculptors were then chosen to create the astronomers in keeping with Garner's Art Deco design. Archibald Garner sculpted the figure of Copernicus. The monument was created concurrently with the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium. Studio space was provided for the artists in the completed lower level of the observatory building, and all work was done on site. It is presumed that the monument was cast by the same firm contracted for the construction of the observatory building. The original armillary sphere, which is in storage at the observatory, was made of cast stone covered with a metal alloy foil (lead, tin, and copper). In 1989, after five decades of exposure to the elements, the seriously eroded armillary sphere was removed during renovation of the monument. In the spring of 1991, a new cast bronze replacement sphere was installed atop the monument. Errors in the original armillary sphere were corrected in the replacement. The new sphere was cast by Gasser Olds Foundry. IAS files contain an undated article by the designer's son, Jeff Garner, and related newsclippings."