Los Angeles, as one of the most important cities in the USA, has numerous excellent museums. Here I present 12 of them!
Table of Contents
The 12 best museums in Los Angeles
Getty Center Museum
Founded by American oil billionaire J. Paul Getty, the institution consists of two building complexes: the Getty Center in Los Angeles houses modern art treasures, while ancient masterpieces can be viewed in a villa built in an antique style in Pacific Palisades, California.
The Getty Villa is modeled after a building in the Italian city of Herculaneum. Its rooms display paintings by Van Gogh and Gauguin. The exhibition showcases not only paintings, drawings, and sculptures but also furniture and ornate utilitarian objects.
The museum also appeared in a film: the 1997 movie „Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie” starring Rowan Atkinson was filmed here.
Admission is free!
All information can be found here!
California Science Center
One of Los Angeles’ most popular science museums, covering multiple subject areas.
Main sections:
- The Space Shuttle Endeavour is an iconic piece of space exploration that tells the story of the United States space program.
- The Ecosystems showcases Earth’s various ecosystems, such as rainforests, deserts, and oceans.
- The Creative World explores engineering sciences and innovation, including architecture, transportation, and technology.
- The World of Life presents living organisms and how life works, from cell structure to complete ecosystems.
Admission is free, but IMAX and certain exhibitions require payment!
All information can be found here!
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
The largest art museum on the West Coast, featuring artwork from around the world.
Main sections:
- Asian Art: pieces from India, China, Japan, and Korea’s artistic heritage, including sculptures, textiles, and ceramics.
- European Art: works by classical European painters such as Rembrandt, Renoir, and Cézanne.
- Contemporary Art: works by modern and contemporary artists such as Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons.
- Latin American Art: pre-Columbian artifacts and works by modern Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
- Islamic Art: unique collection of calligraphy, textiles, and ceramics reflecting the richness of Islamic culture.
Several famous works are on display. Notable among these is Urban Light, Chris Burden’s famous outdoor installation consisting of 202 cast iron street lamps. Another is Levitated Mass, Michael Heizer’s monumental sculptural work featuring a walkway under a 340-ton granite boulder.
All information can be found here!
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
One of the largest and most comprehensive natural history museums in the USA, showcasing Earth’s history, biological diversity, and cultural heritage.
Main sections:
- Dinosaur Hall: one of the museum’s most famous sections, housing North America’s largest dinosaur skeleton collection, including massive Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops skeletons.
- Gem and Mineral Hall: impressive collection of precious stones and minerals, including rare gold pieces and meteorites.
- North American Mammals Hall: lifelike dioramas showing North American mammals in their natural habitats.
- Nature Gardens: outdoor space where living plants and animals can be observed, such as butterflies and bees.
- History of Los Angeles: exhibition showing the city’s development and history, from paleontological findings to modern urban development.
All information can be found here!
Hammer Museum
One of Los Angeles’ most renowned contemporary art centers. Founded in 1990, it bears the name of oil magnate Armand Hammer.
The museum pays special attention to showcasing contemporary art, particularly works by new and emerging artists. Its collection also includes works by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Monet.
Admission is free!
All information can be found here!
The Broad
The museum has become world-renowned for its combination of innovative art and iconic architecture.
It boasts a collection of over 2,000 artworks spanning contemporary art from the mid-20th century to the present. It addresses themes such as identity, technology, social change, and the challenges of modern life.
Among its famous works is the Infinity Mirrored Room. This is Yayoi Kusama’s light and mirror installation that creates an illusion of senses and infinity.
Admission is free!
All information can be found here!
Petersen Automotive Museum
One of the world’s most significant automotive museums, showcasing both transportation history and the development of the automotive industry.
Founded in 1994 by Robert E. Petersen, an automotive magazine publisher. The museum’s facade consists of 100,000 square feet of stainless steel ribbons, their undulating forms evoking the speed and movement of cars.
Its permanent exhibition presents the history of the automotive industry, from early vehicles to modern sports cars: classic cars, race cars, and custom-built models, including Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, and Bugatti.
A special part of the museum is the Vault, which showcases more than 250 rare and unique vehicles from around the world, including royal, presidential, and celebrity cars. This can only be visited as part of a guided tour.
All information can be found here!
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
This museum showcases works of the modern era. More than 7,000 artworks can be seen, including paintings, sculptures, installations, and media art pieces.
Its permanent collection features works by defining artists of the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century, such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Barbara Kruger, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Admission is free!
All information can be found here!
Japanese American National Museum
Located in the heart of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, this institution is the most significant guardian of the history and culture of the Japanese community living in the United States.
The museum uniquely presents the Japanese American experience, with particular emphasis on issues of immigration, assimilation, and identity. The rich material of the exhibitions provides insight into the community’s everyday life and historical struggles. The institution was founded in 1992 and is housed in the building of the historic Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist temple, which was built in 1925.
The collection contains more than 100,000 objects and photographs documenting the history of Japanese immigration from the 1880s to the present day. The most moving exhibition is the permanent display titled „Common Ground: The Heart of Community” which presents in detail the history of internment camps and the community’s survival strategies. The museum preserves original objects from Manzanar and other camps, personal letters, and diaries. Temporary exhibitions showcase contemporary Japanese American artists and modern issues of cultural identity.
All information can be found here!
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
A true pilgrimage site for film lovers, this stunning museum showcases the history and magic of filmmaking.
The institution is located in Hollywood, along Wilshire Boulevard, and offers visitors one of the world’s most significant film art collections. The museum’s modern building is a sight to behold in itself.
The museum opened in September 2021, after decades of planning and development. The complex consists of two main parts: the Saban Building, which is a renovated art deco building from a former department store built in 1939 (originally the May Company), and the new sphere-shaped building made of glass and concrete, designed by Renzo Piano.
The museum’s collection includes 13 million photographs, 190,000 film cans, 80,000 screenplays, and 61,000 posters. Among the permanent exhibitions is „Stories of Cinema” which presents the history and technique of filmmaking with interactive elements. Visitors can see original Oscar statuettes, iconic film props, including the original shark from Jaws, Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, and costumes from numerous legendary films.
The museum’s 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater screens classic and contemporary films, while temporary exhibitions explore topics such as the work of Hayao Miyazaki or the filmmaking of Pedro Almodóvar.
All information can be found here!
Italian American Museum of Los Angeles
Located in Los Angeles’s historic Italian neighborhood, this charming, community-oriented museum celebrates the contributions of Italian immigrants to the city’s development.
The museum is a small but rich venue where visitors can learn about the history and cultural heritage of the Italian American community in Southern California. The institution places special emphasis on personal stories and family memories.
The collection contains personal objects, photographs, documents, and artifacts that showcase the daily lives and enterprises of Italian immigrants. The exhibitions include the stories of early settlers who arrived in California in the late 19th century, as well as topics such as the role of Italian winemakers, restaurateurs, and businesspeople in Los Angeles’s development. The museum pays special attention to family genealogy and preserves the archives of local Italian American families. Temporary exhibitions feature Italian American artists and contemporary cultural themes.
All information can be found here!
California African American Museum
Located in Exposition Park, this significant museum showcases the history, art, and culture of California’s African American community. The institution is the state’s only museum specifically created to document and present the African American experience.
The museum preserves more than 6,000 artifacts, paintings, sculptures, and historical documents. The permanent exhibition focuses on three main areas: the history of African Americans in California, visual arts, and cultural heritage. Outstanding pieces in the collection include works by Jacob Lawrence, Betye Saar, and Charles White.
The museum places special emphasis on presenting the history of California’s Black community, including the Great Migration, when African Americans arrived in masses in the 1940s for wartime industrial jobs. Temporary exhibitions showcase contemporary African American artists and current social issues.
Admission is free!
All information can be found here!
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