The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles

The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, a part of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, is an exciting and engaging Ice Age fossil site. Since the early 1900s, there have been over 100 excavations at the Tar Pits, and today, a majority of those discoveries rest in the museum on-site. There’s a large variety of fossils, from mammoths and sloths to minute plants, which the museum refers to as “microfossils.”

At the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, you can explore exhibits of saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and giant sloths while also checking out what current scientists are working on in the Fossil Lab. The museum is filled with interactive exhibits, and visitors have the opportunity to chat with gallery interpreters, scientists, and volunteers equipped to answer their questions. Visitors are then encouraged to put it all together and learn about how these uncoverings apply to issues of current times, such as climate change.

The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles - one of the highlights of 14 Best Family Things to Do in Los Angeles (Read all about Los Angeles here)

Highlights of the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum

If you’d like to join a guided tour, they’re hosted daily at no additional charge. On the museum’s Excavator Tour, you'll learn about how excavators and scientists unearth fossils and then assemble an image of what Los Angeles was like back in the Ice Age. The tour moves through the Fossil Lab, Lake Pit, Observation Pit, and Project 23. If you have a membership at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, you can choose from a variety of other tours with special additions and features listed on the museum’s site.

Between the pits and the museum, allocate some time to hang out at Hancock Park. Enjoyed by visitors and Angelenos alike, Hancock Park is a great spot to have a picnic or just to let the kids burn off some energy. Follow the path through the excavation sites, the playground, the Pleistocene Garden, and more.

History of the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum

The term “pits” was coined to refer to fossil quarry excavations between July 1913 and September 1915. While referred to as the “tar pits,” the black gooey substance that bubbles to the surface is actually asphalt. Over 1 million bones from over 231 species of vertebrates have been excavated from the tar pits since 1906, and 159 species of plants and 234 species of invertebrates have been identified here.

Make sure to take note of the curious Lake Pit situated in front of the museum, a remnant from asphalt mining during the late 1800s. As rain and groundwater collected atop the foaming asphalt, it formed a small lake. Today, they have a recreation of a mammoth solidified in asphalt for visitors to see.

Good to know when visiting the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum

Check out the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum’s schedule for one-of-a-kind special events year-round for both youth and teens. Also, check out learning resources and opportunities for all ages on the museum’s site. If you’re in the market for souvenirs, bring a few bucks to grab a T-shirt, stuffed sloth, engaging book, or whatever it is you fancy.

There are plenty of restaurants nearby the Tar Pits to keep you well-fed and happy during your day. The Counter offers build-your-own burgers, fries, and salad, plus cocktails, beer, and wine for the adults. Johnnie’s Pizza is quick and affordable, and Baja Fresh offers fast, fresh, and casual Mexican food. On weekdays, keep your eyes open for food trucks along Wilshire Boulevard serving lunch in a variety of cuisines.

Location: 5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA

Open: Daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm

Phone: +1 213-763-3499

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