We are open today from 9:30 am to 5 pm. See what is Happening Today

Exterior shot of La Brea Tar Pits

Welcome to La Brea Tar Pits

A gateway back to the Ice Age, right in the heart of L.A.

Witness science in action at La Brea Tar Pits.

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lake pit at la brea tar pits

Lake Pit

observation pit at the tar pits

Observation Pit

dire wolf wall at the tar pits

Dire Wolf Wall

Analisa Rivera, a UCLA senior, examining microfossils in the Fossil Lab.

Fossil Lab

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Project 23

Photo of saber tooth cat teeth in the fossil lab

Ice Age Fossils

mammoth summer key art no type

It's A Mammoth Summer

Start your adventure

Upcoming Events

More events

Sat

20

Jul

Tour the Museum to learn how the Tar Pits have been telling the stories L.A.'s ice age giants for over 100 years

Mammoths and Mastodons Exploration

Tours & Shows
  • 11 am

Tour the museum to learn how the Tar Pits have been telling the stories of L.A.'s ice age giants for over 100 years.

Learn more

Sat

20

Jul

ice age encounters show tar pits

Ice Age Encounters

Live Theater Show
  • 11 am
  • 1 pm
  • 2 pm

This dynamic, live performance features a life-size adult saber-toothed cat puppet that brings the distant past to life.

Learn more

Sat

20

Jul

Project 23 boxes and bins

Project 23 Revealed

Tours & Shows
  • 11:30 am

Walk to our current excavation where you’ll talk to real excavators about their newest discoveries and learn the inside story of Project 23.

Learn more

What are you interested in learning about at the Tar Pits?

Icon of a saber-toothed cat to represent cats
Cats
Icon of a globe and thermometer to represent climate change
Climate Change
Icon of binoculars to represent discoveries
Discoveries
Icon of a woolly mammoth head to represent mammoths
Mammoths
Icon of a shovel to represent digs
Excavations
Photo of workers excavating in the 1800's

Tales from the Tar Pits

Before Wilshire Was Wilshire

Want to discover more?

Our Excavations

We literally have Ice Age L.A. in our hands.

Dig deeper
Photo of paleontologist excavating fossils

Discoveries Made Daily

See the Ice Age at eye level

In L.A.

We try to connect nature, people, and science—at our museums and out in L.A.

lake pit museum in background la brea tar pits

Reimagine La Brea Tar Pits

We are embarking upon an exciting master planning process in Hancock Park—and we want your ideas!
Imagine what's next

Stories

Okay, now I'm curious
mammoth exhibit tar pits mammoths and mastodons

A Gigantic Family Reunion

Join the herd