Natural History Museum
The NHM's original Beaux-Arts building, which debuted alongside Exposition Park in 1913, was the city's first museum. Its enormous collection, which includes more than 35 million objects and specimens (not all of them are on exhibit at once), is second only to the Smithsonian in terms of size. That is one of the best museums to visit in Los Angeles. Because of its size, it is highly recommended that you plan your trip there. Those who only have a short amount of time should head straight to the truly stunning collections in the gem and mineral hall, where the displays include a 4,644-carat topaz, a 2,200-carat opal sphere, and a quartz crystal ball that is one of the largest on earth with a 10.9-inch diameter and a weight of 65 lbs.
A six-year, $135 million refurbishment program that added 108,000 square feet of interior space was completed in 2013. With a spectacular, 63-foot-long fin whale skeleton as its centerpiece, the Otis Booth Pavilion now welcomes guests into the museum from the north with a six-story light-filled glass entrance. Five exhibits, including "Becoming L.A.," which explores the history of the Los Angeles region from the time of the Native Americans through the Catholic missions, the Industrial Revolution, and the World Wars, to the present, have debuted together with twelve new galleries. The Nature Gardens' outdoor space includes a 3.5-acre urban wilderness with a pond, dry stream bed, lovely landscaping, and other attractions that draw wildlife from the area. The Nature Lab tells the tales of Los Angeles' wild inhabitants through interactive multimedia and real animal habitats.
A new 14,000 square foot dinosaur hall soon joined the Age of Mammals display, which debuted in July 2010 and boasts a stunning skylight that crowns the museum's rotunda. Other attractions include the viewable vault, unquestionably the most fascinating of the anthropological exhibitions, three vintage diorama halls, the effectively spooky and terrifyingly creepy insect zoo, and others. The First Friday program, which takes place on the first Friday night of each month and offers tours, talks, music from hipster-friendly bands, and even DJs, is one of the special events listed on the website.
Google Rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: Exposition Park900 Exposition BlvdLos Angeles90007
Contact: nhm.org
Phone: 213-763-3466
Price: Museum: $15 adults; $12 seniors/students with ID & children 13-17; $7 children 3-12; children under 2, active military with ID, CA teachers with ID, and members free.
Opening hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 9:30am–5pm; closed Tue
