Our museums will be closed until further notice to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Our first priority is the well-being and safety of our guests, staff and volunteers. Stay up to date with NHMLAC's response to COVID-19.​​​ Nuestros museos estarán cerrados hasta nuevo aviso para minimizar la propagación del COVID-19. Ve la respuesta de NHMLAC ante el coronavirus (COVID-19).

upper level of tar pits museum building

We invite you to open new doors to our natural and cultural worlds.

While our museums remain closed, please stay in touch with us through NHMLAC Connects.

Begin exploring

In L.A.

We try to connect nature, people, and science—all over L.A.

kid explores nature in backyard

Get Out In Nature!

When yards and gardens become more wildlife friendly, the experience can be magical
A hike on the wild side

Stories

Okay, now I'm curious
Aerial photograph of two people cleaning mammoth fossil

Mammoth on Display

The skull of an Ice Age giant

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

LBTP_pit14

Project 23

Photo of saber tooth cat teeth in the fossil lab

Ice Age Fossils

Mind Blown - Tar Pits

What blows YOUR mind?

Discover mind-blowing tours and experience the Tar Pits YOUR way.

Start your adventure
Two pedestrian paths bring people above the Lake Pit, a site for urban fiction and imagination.
Reimagine
La Brea Tar Pits

Architects WEISS/MANFREDI selected to lead the master planning process in Hancock Park.

Imagine what's next
Photograph of people looking at the Tar Pits Fossil Lab
Did you know the Tar Pits are pretty cool?

La Brea Tar Pits has been voted one of 2019's World's Coolest Places by TIME for Kids.

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
mammoths and mastodons key art type left

Mammoths and Mastodons

Go on an exploration of MAMMOTH proportions

Discover what's inside