Children learning about mammoths in LA

Experiences

4.4

(19 Customer Reviews)

La Brea Tar Pits Museum

Explore active fossil excavation sites and exhibits showcasing ancient creatures at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum in Los Angeles.

Explore at your own pace

Free cancellation

Instant confirmation

Mobile ticket

From $18

Why book with us?

From $18

Why book with us?

Summarised reviews

La Brea Tar Pits Museum holds a 4.4/5 rating from 19 reviews on tickadoo.

Customer reviews

How do we collect reviews?

Summarised reviews

La Brea Tar Pits Museum holds a 4.4/5 rating from 19 reviews on tickadoo.

Customer reviews

How do we collect reviews?

Summarised reviews

La Brea Tar Pits Museum holds a 4.4/5 rating from 19 reviews on tickadoo.

Customer reviews

How do we collect reviews?

Summarised reviews

La Brea Tar Pits Museum holds a 4.4/5 rating from 19 reviews on tickadoo.

Customer reviews

How do we collect reviews?

Highlights and inclusions

Highlights

  • Visit a working fossil excavation site in central Los Angeles

  • See fossils and learn about ice age creatures

  • Discover hands-on exhibits and interactive displays

  • Join the Excavator Tour for unique insights into paleontology

What’s Included

  • General admission to the museum at La Brea Tar Pits

  • Access to temporary exhibitions

  • The Excavator Tour

About

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

FAQs

What are the La Brea Tar Pits?

The La Brea Tar Pits are natural asphalt seeps where thousands of Ice Age animals became trapped and were preserved over 50,000 years, creating one of the world's richest fossil sites.

Can I see actual tar bubbling at La Brea?

Yes, you can see active tar seeps bubbling on the museum grounds. The Lake Pit outside the museum has visible asphalt rising to the surface.

What animals have been found at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Discoveries include saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, mammoths, giant sloths, and thousands of other Ice Age specimens preserved in the tar.

How long should I spend at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Plan 1.5-2 hours to see the indoor museum exhibits, outdoor tar seeps, and the paleontology lab where scientists prepare real fossils.

Can I watch scientists working at La Brea?

Yes, the Fossil Lab has viewing windows where you can watch paleontologists clean and prepare real fossils recovered from the tar pits.

Is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum suitable for kids?

Yes, children are fascinated by the life-sized animal sculptures, real fossils, and the active dig site. It is educational and engaging for all ages.

Where is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum?

The museum is on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district, part of the larger Museum Row area of Los Angeles.

Are the outdoor tar pits free to see?

The park grounds and outdoor tar seeps are free to view. A ticket is required to enter the indoor museum galleries.

Is the museum being renovated?

The museum has been undergoing renovation phases. Some galleries may be affected. Check current opening status before your visit.

Is parking available at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Metered street parking and nearby paid lots are available. The museum is also accessible via public transit on Wilshire Boulevard.

Know before you go
  • Parking fees are not included with your ticket

  • Admission does not include the 3D Theater or Ice Age Encounters Show

  • The museum is wheelchair accessible

  • Allow plenty of time to explore the fossil excavation sites

  • Check opening times before your visit to plan accordingly

Cancelation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

Address

5801 Wilshire Boulevard-90036

Highlights and inclusions

Highlights

  • Visit a working fossil excavation site in central Los Angeles

  • See fossils and learn about ice age creatures

  • Discover hands-on exhibits and interactive displays

  • Join the Excavator Tour for unique insights into paleontology

What’s Included

  • General admission to the museum at La Brea Tar Pits

  • Access to temporary exhibitions

  • The Excavator Tour

About

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

FAQs

What are the La Brea Tar Pits?

The La Brea Tar Pits are natural asphalt seeps where thousands of Ice Age animals became trapped and were preserved over 50,000 years, creating one of the world's richest fossil sites.

Can I see actual tar bubbling at La Brea?

Yes, you can see active tar seeps bubbling on the museum grounds. The Lake Pit outside the museum has visible asphalt rising to the surface.

What animals have been found at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Discoveries include saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, mammoths, giant sloths, and thousands of other Ice Age specimens preserved in the tar.

How long should I spend at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Plan 1.5-2 hours to see the indoor museum exhibits, outdoor tar seeps, and the paleontology lab where scientists prepare real fossils.

Can I watch scientists working at La Brea?

Yes, the Fossil Lab has viewing windows where you can watch paleontologists clean and prepare real fossils recovered from the tar pits.

Is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum suitable for kids?

Yes, children are fascinated by the life-sized animal sculptures, real fossils, and the active dig site. It is educational and engaging for all ages.

Where is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum?

The museum is on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district, part of the larger Museum Row area of Los Angeles.

Are the outdoor tar pits free to see?

The park grounds and outdoor tar seeps are free to view. A ticket is required to enter the indoor museum galleries.

Is the museum being renovated?

The museum has been undergoing renovation phases. Some galleries may be affected. Check current opening status before your visit.

Is parking available at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Metered street parking and nearby paid lots are available. The museum is also accessible via public transit on Wilshire Boulevard.

Know before you go
  • Parking fees are not included with your ticket

  • Admission does not include the 3D Theater or Ice Age Encounters Show

  • The museum is wheelchair accessible

  • Allow plenty of time to explore the fossil excavation sites

  • Check opening times before your visit to plan accordingly

Cancelation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

Address

5801 Wilshire Boulevard-90036

Highlights and inclusions

Highlights

  • Visit a working fossil excavation site in central Los Angeles

  • See fossils and learn about ice age creatures

  • Discover hands-on exhibits and interactive displays

  • Join the Excavator Tour for unique insights into paleontology

What’s Included

  • General admission to the museum at La Brea Tar Pits

  • Access to temporary exhibitions

  • The Excavator Tour

About

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.

Know before you go
  • Parking fees are not included with your ticket

  • Admission does not include the 3D Theater or Ice Age Encounters Show

  • The museum is wheelchair accessible

  • Allow plenty of time to explore the fossil excavation sites

  • Check opening times before your visit to plan accordingly

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

FAQs

What are the La Brea Tar Pits?

The La Brea Tar Pits are natural asphalt seeps where thousands of Ice Age animals became trapped and were preserved over 50,000 years, creating one of the world's richest fossil sites.

Can I see actual tar bubbling at La Brea?

Yes, you can see active tar seeps bubbling on the museum grounds. The Lake Pit outside the museum has visible asphalt rising to the surface.

What animals have been found at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Discoveries include saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, mammoths, giant sloths, and thousands of other Ice Age specimens preserved in the tar.

How long should I spend at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Plan 1.5-2 hours to see the indoor museum exhibits, outdoor tar seeps, and the paleontology lab where scientists prepare real fossils.

Can I watch scientists working at La Brea?

Yes, the Fossil Lab has viewing windows where you can watch paleontologists clean and prepare real fossils recovered from the tar pits.

Is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum suitable for kids?

Yes, children are fascinated by the life-sized animal sculptures, real fossils, and the active dig site. It is educational and engaging for all ages.

Where is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum?

The museum is on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district, part of the larger Museum Row area of Los Angeles.

Are the outdoor tar pits free to see?

The park grounds and outdoor tar seeps are free to view. A ticket is required to enter the indoor museum galleries.

Is the museum being renovated?

The museum has been undergoing renovation phases. Some galleries may be affected. Check current opening status before your visit.

Is parking available at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Metered street parking and nearby paid lots are available. The museum is also accessible via public transit on Wilshire Boulevard.

Cancelation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

Address

5801 Wilshire Boulevard-90036

Highlights and inclusions

Highlights

  • Visit a working fossil excavation site in central Los Angeles

  • See fossils and learn about ice age creatures

  • Discover hands-on exhibits and interactive displays

  • Join the Excavator Tour for unique insights into paleontology

What’s Included

  • General admission to the museum at La Brea Tar Pits

  • Access to temporary exhibitions

  • The Excavator Tour

About

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.

Know before you go
  • Parking fees are not included with your ticket

  • Admission does not include the 3D Theater or Ice Age Encounters Show

  • The museum is wheelchair accessible

  • Allow plenty of time to explore the fossil excavation sites

  • Check opening times before your visit to plan accordingly

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

FAQs

What are the La Brea Tar Pits?

The La Brea Tar Pits are natural asphalt seeps where thousands of Ice Age animals became trapped and were preserved over 50,000 years, creating one of the world's richest fossil sites.

Can I see actual tar bubbling at La Brea?

Yes, you can see active tar seeps bubbling on the museum grounds. The Lake Pit outside the museum has visible asphalt rising to the surface.

What animals have been found at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Discoveries include saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, mammoths, giant sloths, and thousands of other Ice Age specimens preserved in the tar.

How long should I spend at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Plan 1.5-2 hours to see the indoor museum exhibits, outdoor tar seeps, and the paleontology lab where scientists prepare real fossils.

Can I watch scientists working at La Brea?

Yes, the Fossil Lab has viewing windows where you can watch paleontologists clean and prepare real fossils recovered from the tar pits.

Is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum suitable for kids?

Yes, children are fascinated by the life-sized animal sculptures, real fossils, and the active dig site. It is educational and engaging for all ages.

Where is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum?

The museum is on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district, part of the larger Museum Row area of Los Angeles.

Are the outdoor tar pits free to see?

The park grounds and outdoor tar seeps are free to view. A ticket is required to enter the indoor museum galleries.

Is the museum being renovated?

The museum has been undergoing renovation phases. Some galleries may be affected. Check current opening status before your visit.

Is parking available at the La Brea Tar Pits?

Metered street parking and nearby paid lots are available. The museum is also accessible via public transit on Wilshire Boulevard.

Cancelation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

Address

5801 Wilshire Boulevard-90036

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

More Experiences