Located on Mount Wilson, a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, California, the Observatory was conceived and founded by George Ellery Hale in 1904. The home of some of the most important telescopes in the development of modern astronomy - including the two largest telescopes of their time - it is a site of significant scientific and Los Angeles history. The Observatory and grounds are open to the public to visit, and during the spring and summer hosts public programs including observing through the historic telescopes, lectures, concerts, educational programs, and more.