Griffith Park

Carved from the former Spanish land grant known as Rancho Los Feliz, Griffith Park, a rugged, 4,300-acre wilderness located in the heart of Los Angeles, has been the principal playground for Angelenos for over a century. Since 1896, when the land was donated to the city by controversial philanthropist Col. Griffith J. Griffith, generations of weekenders have picnicked, camped, golfed, ridden horses, hiked, bicycled, and played ball in the park. To this day, visitors still climb aboard its mini-train and merry-go-round and explore its zoo, museums, amphitheater, and world-famous observatory. The park, which lies in the shadow of the Hollywood sign, has been a frequent filming site for legendary movies like Back to the Future, Birth of a Nation, and Rebel Without a Cause.

E.J. Stephens is a freelance writer and Hollywood historian who writes a daily blog on cultural history called Deadwrite's Dailies. He lives with his family in Canyon Country, California. Film historian and consultant Marc Wanamaker is a founder of the Hollywood Heritage Museum. In 1973, he established Bison Archives, one of Southern California's most notable repositories of entertainment heritage. Previously, they coauthored the Images of America title Early Warner Bros. Studios.