La Brea Tar Pits Museum Tickets at La Brea Tar Pits Museum
La Brea Tar Pits Museum
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La Brea Tar Pits Museum Tickets
Visit the world's only active urban fossil excavation site in the heart of Los Angeles. The La Brea Tar Pits Museum sits atop natural asphalt seeps that have preserved thousands of Ice Age fossils for over 50,000 years. You can watch paleontologists at work in the Fossil Lab, cleaning and preparing real fossils recovered from the tar pits.
Inside the museum, explore galleries filled with authentic fossils of saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, mammoths and giant sloths. Life-sized animal sculptures help bring these ancient creatures to life. Outside, see active tar seeps bubbling at Lake Pit, where asphalt continues to rise to the surface naturally. The Excavator Tour provides behind-the-scenes access and expert insights into the ongoing excavation work.
Highlights
- Watch scientists clean and prepare real fossils through viewing windows in the Fossil Lab
- See authentic Ice Age fossils including saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and mammoth specimens
- Observe active tar bubbling at the outdoor Lake Pit
- Join the included Excavator Tour for expert insights into paleontology methods
- Explore hands-on interactive displays designed for all ages
- Access temporary exhibitions alongside the permanent fossil collection
Plan Your Visit to La Brea Tar Pits Museum
The museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district, easily accessible by public transport. Plan 1.5 to 2 hours for your visit to see the indoor galleries, outdoor tar seeps and paleontology lab. The outdoor park grounds and tar seeps are free to view, though museum admission is required for the indoor exhibits.
Metered street parking and nearby paid lots are available. The museum is wheelchair accessible and suitable for children, who particularly enjoy the life-sized animal sculptures and interactive stations. Note that some galleries may be affected by ongoing renovation phases, so check current opening status before your visit.
Located in Museum Row, you can easily combine your visit with other nearby attractions like the Natural History Museum for more scientific discoveries, or explore the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for a different perspective on Los Angeles culture.
Why you'll love it
- Only active urban fossil excavation site in the world
- Natural asphalt seeps have preserved Ice Age fossils for 50,000 years
- Watch paleontologists clean and prepare real fossils in the Fossil Lab
- See authentic saber-toothed cat and dire wolf skeletons on display
- Fossils are still being actively recovered from live tar pits today
- Situated in the heart of Los Angeles at Hancock Park
What's included
- General admission to the museum at La Brea Tar Pits
- Access to the temporary exhibitions
- The Excavator Tour
- Parking fees
- Access to Titans of the Ice Age 3D Theater
- Access to Ice Age Encounters Show
Good to know
- Age suitability
- Suitable for all ages
- Know before you go
Step Into the Past at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum
Experience a remarkable journey into prehistory at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum. Located in central Los Angeles, this unique destination lets you witness an active fossil dig site and see science in action. From the moment you enter, you are transported back to an era when mammoths and saber-toothed cats roamed the region.
Witness Active Excavations
Observe tar bubbling from the ground - evidence of the ongoing natural processes that have preserved thousands of animal and plant fossils. The museum sits on the world’s only active urban fossil excavation site. During your visit, watch scientists uncover and study fossils, revealing incredible secrets about Earth’s ancient periods.
See Fascinating Fossils and Ancient Life
Stroll through the museum’s exhibits to view real fossils of species like mammoths, dire wolves and giant sloths. Life-size replicas and engaging displays bring the distant past to life, making it an engaging educational adventure for both adults and children. Learn how these creatures lived, what their world looked like and why they vanished.
Join the Excavator Tour
Take the included Excavator Tour to explore behind-the-scenes areas of the Tar Pits. Knowledgeable guides explain the history of the site and the excavation methods still in use. This insight into paleontology makes your experience even richer and more memorable.
Family-Friendly Interactive Experiences
Interactive stations, hands-on activities and multimedia installations are designed for curious minds of all ages. Kids can enjoy touchable fossil displays and educational games that make science fun and accessible. Temporary exhibits and special events often complement the museum’s permanent collection, so visitors always have something new to explore.
Plan Your Visit
The La Brea Tar Pits Museum is wheelchair accessible and located along Wilshire Boulevard, close to many other Los Angeles attractions. General admission includes access to all core exhibits, temporary exhibitions and the popular Excavator Tour, but note that parking and some special experiences may incur an extra fee.
Experience the thrill of discovery at a destination where the past is always present - perfect for families, students, science fans and anyone fascinated by history. See more experiences in Los Angeles on tickadoo. Looking for more? Check out Natural History Museum or Academy Museum on tickadoo.
- Visitor guidelines
No outside food or drinks allowed in exhibit areas
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Remain on marked paths when viewing outdoor excavation sites
Photography without flash is permitted
- Cancellation policy
Free cancellation
Where you'll be
La Brea Tar Pits Museum, 5801 Wilshire Boulevard
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