BE ADVISED: On Sunday March 15, the parking lot at La Brea Tar Pits will be closed at 3 pm. Alternative parking structures are located at the nearby SAG-AFTRA building and the Petersen Automotive Museum. For questions or directions, please call 213.763.3466 or email info@nhm.org.

Mastodon skeleton photographed head on

Experience the Tar Pits

Discover science in action and make discoveries right alongside our scientists. Step into the past and experience the Ice Age come to life!

Tours & Activities

Live Excavation Site

What we dig
Excavating at the Tar Pits

Daily Discoveries

Explore our excavations
lake pit museum in background la brea tar pits

Tar Pits and Park

Witness "tar" bubbling to the surface, discover our iconic Lake Pit, and walk through this amazing natural phenomenon and active dig site

Learn more
Volunteer in Fossil Lab at La Brea Tar Pits

Inside the Museum

Real-time Discoveries

Watch paleontology up close as you peer into our Fossil Lab.

Discover with us
join and give footer tar pits sabertooth skeleton

Inside the Museum

On Display

Discover the magnificent beasts that were excavated right here at the Tar Pits.

Just look what we've found