Museums don’t have to be boring. Los Angeles has just about every type of museum to cater to all interests. Browse the listings below and read the descriptions to see if they pique your interest.
ADOBE DE PALOMARES
491 East Arrow Highway, Pamona
(909) 623-2198
A guided tour of a restored adobe originally built in 1854. The adobe still contains authentic items, such as children’s toys, antique clothing, and utensils. Palomare Park is adjacent to the adobe where you can enjoy a picnic lunch. 6 years and up.
HOURS: Open Sundays from 2pm-5pm
COST: $2 for adults; $1 for children 12 years and under.
AEROSPACE MUSEUM
Exposition Park, Los Angeles
(213) 744-7400
A great place for plane lovers! Great for kids and adults. Through all types of interactive displays one can learn everything there is to know about the way a plane functions. Also on display are actual jet fighters and a space capsule. Great for ages 3 and up.
The day does not end here. On the same location you can visit:
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER, EXPOSITION PARK, 3-D IMAX THEATER, CALIFORNIA AFRO-AMERICAN MUSEUM, AND NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES.
HOURS: Open Daily from 10am-5pm. Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
COST: FREE. Parking is $5.
AMERICAN HERITAGE PARK/ MILITARY MUSEUM
1918 N. Rosemead Boulevard, South El Monte
(818) 442-1776
The collection of Military equipment contain over 100 types of equipment. It includes vehicles and weapons from World War II, Jeeps, cannons, amphibious trucks, and ambulances. A great place to look around, but not to sit or touch the equipment. Great for 4years and up.
HOURS: Open Sat.-Sun. from noon-4:30; open Wed., Thurs., and Fri. for groups by appointment.
COST: $4 for adults; $3 for seniors and military; $2 for ages 10-16; 50 cents for ages 5-9; children under 4 are free.
ANGELS ATTIC
516 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica
(310) 394-8331A beautiful Victorian house filled with collectable dolls and doll houses. You can look, but unfortunately you can not touch the displays. Great for 5 years and up.
HOURS: Open Thurs.-Sun. from 12:30-4:30pm.
COST: $6.50 for adults; $4 for seniors and students; $3.50 for children 12 years and under.
ANTELOPE VALLEY INDIAN MUSEUM
Avenue M, between 150th and 170th Streets East, Lancaster
(805) 942-0662
A remarkable Indian museum where you can actually recapture the way the Indians lived in this area. You can find pottery, baskets, and jewelry all from the times of the Hopi Indians. Just behind the Indian museum you can take a beautiful half mile nature walk through the desert.
Great for ages 5 years and up.
HOURS: Open from the middle of September through the middle of June on Sat.-Sun. from 11am-4pm. Tours are available Tues.,Wed., and Thurs. by appointment.
COST: $3 for adults; $1.50 for ages 6-12; children 5 years and under free.
AUTRY MUSEUM OF WESTERN HERITAGE
4700 Western Heritage Way, in Griffith Park, Los Angeles
(213) 667-2000
If you love the Old West this museum is great for you. On display at the museum you will see weapons, tools, clothing, and all kinds of artifacts from the Old West.Throughout the museum you will see movie clips and videos describing that time period. There is also a great area for children to dress up like cowboys and have fun. Great for 4 years and up.
HOURS: Open Tues.-Sun. from 10am-5pm. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
COST: $7.50 for adults; $5 for seniors and ages 13-18; $3 for children 2-12 years old.
CALIFORNIA AFRO-AMERICAN MUSEUM
600 State Drive, at Exposition Park, Los Angeles
(213) 744-7432
This museum portrays the African-American experience in this country through the eyes of African-American artists. On display are different playhouse size houses and work environments. You will also see pictures and other artifacts. Great for ages 5 years and up.
In the same vicinity:
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER, EXPOSITION PARK, NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES, AND 3-D IMAX THEATER.
HOURS: Open Tues.-Sun. from 10am-5pm.
COST: Free. Parking is $5.
CALIFORNIA HERITAGE MUSEUM
2612 Main Street, Santa Monica
(310) 392-8537
Displays at the museum are always changing. In the past they have had themes such as model trains and cowboys. The museum looks like a two story house with a very rustic interior.
Great for ages 5 years and up.
HOURS: Open Wed.-Sat., 11am-4pm; Sun., noon-4pm.
COST: $3 for adults; $2 for seniors and students; children 12 years and under are free.
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER
700 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles
(323) 724-3623
This place is amazing for all ages! It has been newly renovated and it is great. The whole museum is interactive. You can ride a high-wire bicycle which is on a one-inch cable and a 40 foot drop or try the Space Docking Simulator and enjoy virtual space. While you are there go see the 3-D Imax theater and see a movie on a 7 story tall screen! Great for ages 3 years and up.
Hours: 10am-5pm daily.
COST: FREE for the Science Center and the Imax Theater is approximately $7.00 for 3-D show and $6.00 for the 2-D show (Call for kids and group prices) .
CAROLE & BARRY KAYE MUSEUM OF MINIATURES
5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
(213) 937-6464
This museum has the largest collection of miniatures in the world. Everything is miniature from planes to little cakes in the miniature bakery. Great for ages 6 years and up.
HOURS: Open Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm; Sun., 11am-5pm.
COST: $7.50 for adults; $6.50 for seniors; $5 for students (13-21 years old); $3 for ages 3-12.
CRAFT AND FOLK ART MUSEUM
5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
(213) 937-5544
This museum displays ethnic and folk art from all over the world. The exhibits do rotate at this museum, so call in advance to find out what is on display. Great for 5 years and up.
HOURS: Open Tues.-Sun. from 11am-5pm.
COST: $4 for adults; $2.50 for seniors and students; children 11 years and under are free.
THE DRUM BARRACKS CIVIL WAR MUSEUM
1052 Banning Boulevard, Wilmington
(310) 548-7509
This museum takes you through the Civil War. It starts off by showing you a brief movie about Camp Drum. On display you can see different types of weapons used in the Civil War.
Great for 5 years and up.
HOURS: Tours are given every hour on the hour between 10am-1pm, Tues.-Thurs.; and between 11:30am-2:30pm, Sat.-Sun.
COST: $2.50 per person.
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE / AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST CENTER MUSEUM
Edwards Air Force Base
(805) 277-8050
The Air Force Base is the site for flight research and flight testing. There are about 15 airplanes on display which you can walk around on. Great for 6 years and up.
HOURS: Open Tues.-Sat. from 9am-5pm.
COST: FREE
EL MONTE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
3150 North Tyler Avenue, El Monte
(818) 580-2232
This museum will take you through the history of the United States and of El Monte. On display which you are not allowed to touch are things like army medallions, dolls, books, and a flag with bullet holes in it. Great for 5 years and up.
HOURS: Open Tues.-Fri., 10am-4pm; Sun., 1pm-3pm. Open on Sat. by appointment.
COST: FREE
FORT MACARTHUR MILITARY MUSEUM
3601 S. Gaffey Street, San Pedro
(310) 548-2631
A museum filled with guns, cannons, mines, pictures, artillery, and other memorabilia of World War II are all located underground in a concrete World War II defense battery. Great for2 years and up.
HOURS: The museum is open Tues., Thurs., Sat.-Sun. from 12pm-5pm. The park is open daily from sunrise to 6pm. Docent tours are offered Sat.-Sun. at 1pm and 3pm.
COST: FREE
GENERAL PHINEAS BANNING RESIDENCE MUSEUM AND PARK
401 E. M Street, Wilmington
(310) 548-7777
The founder of Wilmington once lived in this Victorian home which is now a museum. The house built in the 1800’s is still decorated with furniture from that time period. Great for 7 years and up.
HOURS: Tues.-Thurs. at 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm; Sat.-Sun. same times and one more additional tour at 3:30pm.
COST: $2 per person.
GEORGE C. PAGE MUSEUM / LA BREA TAR PITS
5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
(213) 857-6311
A museum filled with fossils of different types of animals such as; dire wolves, mastodons, and bisons all that were excavated from the pit right outside the museum. The tar pit is still overflowing and bubbling with tar. Great for 3 years and up.
HOURS: Open daily in the summer from 10am-5pm. The rest of the year; open Tues.-Sun. from 10am-5pm.
COST: $6 for adults; $3.50 for seniors and students with ID; $2 for ages 5-10; children 4 and under are free.
GORDON R. HOWARD / MENTZER HOUSE
The Museum address: 115 N. Lomita Street, Burbank; the Mentzer House address: 1015 West Olive Avenue, Burbank; the two are connected by a walkway, but have two different address’
(818) 841-6333
The Museum has a lot of great things taking you back to when Burbank came about. Inside the museum you will see old clothes, furniture, and other things. Next door is the Mentzer House, which was originally built in 1870. Inside the house you will see all the types of things you would have found in the 1800’s.
HOURS: Open Sundays from 1pm-4pm.
COST: $1 donation per person is requested.
GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM
In Griffith Park, going up on Mount Hollywood, Los Angeles
(213) 664-1191
What a beautiful place to go to see the view of Los Angeles during a clear day, or on a clear night. To see the view you can use the largest telescope for the public to use in California, for free (on clear nights in the summer time from dusk -9:45pm). In the Hall of Science in the Observatory you can step on a scale that tells you how much you would weigh on Jupiter, or try the moon scale. There are weather exhibits and a solar telescope all for you to play with. Great for 4 years and up.
HOURS: Open daily in the summer 12:30pm-10pm. Open the rest of the year Tues.-Fri., 2pm-10pm; Sat.-Sun., 12:30pm-10pm.
COST: FREE
GUINNESS WORLD OF RECORDS MUSEUM
6764 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
(213) 463-6433
This Museum located right in the heart of Hollywood is a great fun fact place, where there are over 3,000 facts, and world records. You will see models of the largest and smallest of anything you can imagine. Great for 4 years and up.
HOURS: Open Sun.-Thurs., 10am-midnight; Fri.-Sat., 10am-1:30am.
COST: $8.95 for adults; $6.95 for ages 6-12; children 5 years and under are free. Also offered; combination tickets with the Hollywood Wax Museum-$12.95 for adults; $8.95 for ages 6-12.
HACIENDA HEIGHTS YOUTH SCIENCE CENTER
16949 Wedgeworth Drive, Hacienda Heights
(818) 854-9825
Open only in the summer time, this museum is run out of a classroom in an elementary school, but it is packed with great science. Great for 4 years and up.
HOURS: Open in the summer, Mon.-Fri. from 8am-noon. Open during the school year on Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
COST: FREE.
THE HATHAWAY RANCH MUSEUM
11901 East Florence Avenue, Santa Fe Springs
(310) 944-6563
This ranch takes you into the past. Located on a 5 acre ranch, this museum has all the antiques that the Hathaways used when they lived there. Nadine Hathaway who is a great grandmother now still lives on the ranch. Great for 4 years and up.
HOURS: The grounds are open Mon.-Tues. & Thurs.-Fri. on a drop-in basis. The museum is open with a tour given of the grounds on the first Sunday of the month from 2pm-4pm. Call to make an appointment if you want to go during the week.
COST: A donation of $1 per person is appreciated.
HERITAGE PARK
12100 Mora Drive, Santa Fe Springs
(562) 946-6476
A park that takes you back to the turn of the century. Everything from clothes, toys, to horse and buggies from that time period. Also outside of the park is a great place for train lovers. You and your children can climb on this old, but restored train and play around. Great for EVERYONE!
HOURS: The park is open everyday from 7am-10pm. The Carriage Barn is open Fri.-Sun. and Tues., 12pm-4pm, Wed.-Thurs., 9am-12pm. The railroad exhibit hours are Tues.-Sun., 12pm-4pm.
COST: FREE
HERITAGE SQUARE MUSEUM
3800 Homer St., Highland Park
(818) 796-2898
Beautiful Victorian homes are at this museum. There are seven of them, and each are beautiful and unique. There is one really cool house that is shaped in an octagon! You can go through every house, but only with the one hour tour. Great for 6 years and up.
HOURS: Fri., 10am-3pm; Sat.-Sun., 11:30am-4:30pm. Tours are given Sat. and Sun. !2pm-3pm every hour on the hour.
COST: $5 for adults; $4 for ages 13-17; $2 for ages 7-12; 6 years and under are free.
HOLLYWOOD BOWL MUSEUM
2301 N. Highland, Hollywood
(213) 850-2058
A museum that shows you the history of the Hollywood Bowl, which is a huge outdoor amphitheater. You can look at some instruments and watch some of the concerts on a screen. You can come to the museum when you are at the Hollywood Bowl for a concert, or just stop by to look through the museum any day. Great for 7 years and up.
HOURS: Open in the summer daily from 10am-8:30pm; the rest of the year on Tues.-Sat. from 10am-4:30pm.
COST: FREE. parking is also free before 4pm.
HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT MUSEUM
7021 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
(213) 465-7900
The History of Hollywood and its glitz and glamour are all in this museum. See how movies were and are made. See some of the costumes from famous movies. Great for 6 years and up.
HOURS: Open Tues.-Sun. from 10am-6pm.
COST: $7.50 for adults; $4.50 for seniors and students; $4 for ages 5-12; children under 4 are free.
HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM
6767 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
(213) 462-5991
If you want to meet the stars this is the place to come. Life size replicas of the most famous stars almost look scary because of there life like characteristics. Right near the wax museum is the Guiness World Book Of Records, and you can buy combo tickets for the two places! Great for 4 years and up.
HOURS: Open Sun.-Thurs., 10am-midnight; Fri.-Sat., from 10am-2am.
COST: $8.95 for adults; $7.50 for seniors; $6.95 for ages 6-12; kids 5 years and under free. Combo tickets with Guiness World Book Of Records are $12.95 for adults; $8.95 for ages 6-12.
HOLYLAND EXHIBITION
2215 Lake View and Allesandro Way, Los Angeles
(213) 664-3162
Take a two hour tour through this museum and see amazing Egyptian and Biblical items. Feel like your in Israel on this part of the museum where you sit on rugs and eat authentic foods from Israel. Great for 6 years and up.
HOURS: Open everyday of the week even evenings. You have to call in advance for the best time for your group of 10 or more.
COST: $2.50 for adults; $2 for ages 2-16.
THE HOMESTEAD MUSEUM
15415 E. Don Julian Rd., City of Industry
(818) 968-8492
At this museum you learn about the history of California and about the United States. It is a one hour tour through the museum. Great for 6 years and up.
HOURS: Open for tours Tues.-Fri. 1pm-4pm; Sat.-Sun. 10am-4pm. Tours are given on the hour. They are not opened the fourth weekend of every month.
COST: FREE.
HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTIONS, AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino
(818) 405-2125
An amazing library that is the home of some of the most beautiful and rare pieces. You can look at Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography that he wrote himself in his own handwriting. The art gallery is just as amazing and beautiful. You can take a nice walk through the beautiful botanical gardens. For ages 4 and up.
HOURS: The Gardens and Library are open
JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM
369 E. 1st ST.-In Little Tokyo
(213) 625-0414
This museum commemorates all the Japenese people in the U.S. who were incarcerated in concentration camps during World War II. Great for ages 10 and up.
HOURS: Tues. & Wed. and Fri.-Sun. 10am-5pm; Thurs. 10am-8pm.
COST: $4 for adults; $3 for seniors & ages 6-17 and college students with I.D.; children 5 years and under are free.
THE MUSEUM OF THE HOLOCAUST
6435 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 651-3704
www.lamoth.org
The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust has a two-fold mission that has remained constant since its founding in 1961: Commemoration and Education.
The Los Angeles of The Holocaust boasts the west coast’s largest archive of documents, relics and other primary source materials from the Holocaust period (1933-1945).
Hours of Operation: M-Th 10am-4pm, Friday 10am-2pm, Saturday: Closed, Sunday 12pm-4pm
Admission: Free
MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE
9786 West Pico Blvd.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90035
310-553-8403
A high tech, hands-on experiential museum that focuses the dynamics of racism and prejudice in
America, and the history of the Holocaust.
HOURS: Monday-Thursday: Opens: 10:00 a.m. Last tour: 4:00 p.m.,
Friday: Opens: 10:00 a.m. Last tour: 1:00 p.m.
(November – March) Last tour: 3:00 p.m.
(April-October) Sunday: Opens: 10:30 a.m., Last tour: 5:00 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays
COST: Adults: $8:00, Senior Citizens: $6.00 (62 years and above), Students: $5.00 (with I.D.)
Children: $3.00 (3 – 10 years)
*Click here for more information: http://www.wiesenthal.com/mot/
PETERSON AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
(213) 930-CARS (2277)
A great place for the car lover. Here you will see cars from the most famouse classic cars to the most futuristic cars. Great for ages 6 and up.
HOURS: Tues.-Sun. from 10am-6pm.
COST: $7 for adults; $5 for seniors and students with I.D.; $3 for ages 5-12; under 4 years are free. $4 for all day parking.
QUEEN MARY
Pier J, Long Beach
(562) 435-3511
What a beautiful place to go for the day or stay over night. A beautiful ship to walk around on or take the guided tours of this historical ship. Great for all.
HOURS: Open everyday from 10am-6pm. You can still come after 6 and walk around the ship at no charge except for parking.
COST: $24.95 for adults; $21.95 for seniors/military; $12.95 for ages 5-11; children 4 and under are free; Parking is $12 for all day parking.