Griffith Griffith, historical personality with a connection to Wales (South Wales)

Griffith Griffith

Bequeathed three thousand acres to Los Angeles for the creation of what has become the biggest city park in the United States (five times the size of New York's Central Park). Known today as Griffith Park and contains the Hollywood sign.

Connection: Born in South Wales.

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comment by:Hermosa
Colonel Griffith made his money in gold speculation and gave the land to LA as 'A place of recreation and rest for the masses'. He also spent two years in St. Quentin for the murder of his wife.

comment by:ASterling
Colonel Griffith did not kill his wife, he shot her in the eye but she did not die. He only served the two years in jail because she survived to show the courtroom her disfigurement and her family saw to it there was some prosecution to combat his vast wealth. He was totally nuts by this time; rumour has it that in seventy-five years, nobody ever put flowers on his grave.

comment by:HDLewisatHermo
Yes, sorry about the "murder". Just a couple of further points. Griffiths left money for two major projects in the park (to which has been added about 1000 acres since). Today these are the Greek theater and the Griffiths Observatory. At first Griffiths was so unpopular because of the shooting incident that the city refused to accept his money. Both only completed in the 1930's. He has a bronze statue in the park.