Built-in Art Deco style, this observatory was built in the early 1930s and is a highlight among the landmarks in Southern California. See incredible light shows at the Oschin Planetarium, which puts to use the latest technology. Outside the observatory, you'll find sweeping views of the nearby area that are breathtaking during the day and at night as well. Exhibits and planetarium shows will fascinate visitors. Some visitors might recognize the observatory as the site where the climax of Rebel Without a Cause was filmed. On clear nights take advantage of the free public telescopes to see the stars up close.
J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center is a museum you can't miss while visiting the city. The center stores a varied art forms, sculptures, and photographs from Europe and America. You can also check out old manuscripts and decorative art here. Highlights consist of Italian manuscripts from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Rembrandt's Late Religious Portraits, among others. Set aside a day for this museum with it's Central Gardens and popular restaurant which are sure to leave you breathless with their beauty.
Since its inception in 1961, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and geography. Today, the museum features particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin American, European, and American art, as well as a contemporary museum on its campus, Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM). With this expanded space for contemporary art, innovative collaborations with artists, and an ongoing transformation project, LACMA is creating a truly modern lens through which to view its rich encyclopedic collection of more than 100,000 works. With this much to explore, they encourage you to spend an entire day with them.
Since 1913 this museum has been delighting people of all ages with entertaining exhibits about our world, both natural and cultural. Visit such wonders as the rarest shark in the world, a zoo full of insects and 20 complete dinosaur skeletons. A number of special exhibits are presented throughout the year.
The Page Museum shares the same location as the La Brea Tar Pits, so after you've witnessed the Pits which once entrapped Ice Age mammals, you can step inside and view the fossil remains. There are massive displays of mammoths, saber-toothed cats and an incredible collection of dire wolves. There are also exhibits of insects, plants and birds. Especially fascinating is the display of the skeletal remains of the La Brea Woman who is said to have lived about 9000 years ago. This is an extraordinary experience for the entire family.
Spread across 100,000 square feet of exhibition space, the Peterson Automotive Museum is one of the world's largest automobile museums. From Porsche to Batman's Batmobile, the museum has it all for ardent car fans! It also hosts year-round special exhibitions. Of special interest to families is the Children's Discovery Center, which offers hands-on interactive exhibits.
This museum run by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is an important landmark in Little Tokyo. It is one of the three MOCA museums in the city. The spacious establishment has a gallery where exhibitions of renowned artists are hosted and a reading room stocking books. Opened in 1963, it offers more than 40, 000 square feet of exhibition space.
This attractive museum is both a study of the life of Japanese-Americans and a celebration of Japanese-American art. The museum has presented a number of art exhibitions tackling several different mediums, including photography, film and sculpture. The subjects of some past exhibitions have included "Asian American Artists and Abstraction, 1945-1970", and "The Kona Coffee Story: Along the Hawaii Belt Road."
The Chinese American Museum is the first in Southern California to document the experience of the Chinese in America. It is housed within the oldest surviving Chinese building, called the Garnier Building. The first exhibition was held in 1992 and featured the works of James Wong Howe, the Oscar-winning cinematographer. The museum's main aim is to eventually become an educational resource for other ethnic communities. In February, it celebrates the Chinese Lantern Festival, so if you're visiting LA at that time make sure it's on your itinerary.
Focusing on the Mexican American experience in Southern California and the greater Los Angeles area, this cultural center celebrates the influence of the culture and its people. La Plaza de Cultura y Artes is located near the site where Los Angeles was founded in 1781 on a sprawling 2.2 acre campus. The center is home to two historic buildings, and a lush public garden. Take a peek at rotating exhibits, partake in an educational program or attend one of their many on-going events.
Japan's top architect, Arata Isozaki, built the Museum of Contemporary Art, or MOCA as it is called by locals, in 1986. The series of bright galleries with exposed vaults display some of this century's finest artwork. Works by Mark Rothco, Franz Kline, Claes Oldenburg and more are displayed year-round. In addition to the curators, artists and critics frequently give guided tours. Inside the museum is a great restaurant called Patinette serving great Mediterranean cuisine.
Located in downtown L.A., The Broad is a modern two-story building with an extensive collection of post-war and contemporary art. Local billionaires and benefactors Eli and Edythe Broad have provided the collections as well as allowed for admission to be gratis in perpetuity. This sprawling art house covers an expanse of 120,000-sq. ft., and in addition to the Broad Family's donations, some of the art can be sourced from different artists such as Joseph Beuys, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Richard Artschwager. While entry to the museum is free of charge, there is a small fee for self-guided tours and certain rotating exhibits.