Southern California has some of the best museums around. From art to science, history and natural wonders, there’s something for everyone who loves learning about new things, or seeing beautiful art and learning about the world around them. Here are the top 10 best museums in Southern California you must visit! (Some may be more geared towards adults, but all can be enjoyed by kids too.)
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits. It’s one of Los Angeles’ most popular museums with nearly a million visitors per year, including art enthusiasts and tourists alike.
The Getty Center
The Getty Center is located atop a hill in Los Angeles’s Westside and boasts some of LA’s best views. There are free docent-led tours (on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays) at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. The museum also has an excellent exhibit called Visions of L.A., which features some of LA’s most popular photographers like Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Ben Cunningham and Oleg Vishnepolsky.
Norton Simon Museum
The Norton Simon Museum, located just off Wilshire Boulevard near downtown Los Angeles, was founded by local industrialist and art collector Dr. Norton Simon and features one of largest collections of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings outside of Paris. The museum underwent a $22 million renovation in 2015. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.
Hammer Museum
The Hammer Museum, is located on Wilshire Boulevard, just a few blocks away from some of Los Angeles’ best museums. The museum’s permanent collection features fine art and modern art pieces that are on display year-round. The museum also holds traveling exhibitions and offers special tours. Admission to all exhibits at Hammer Museum is free and open to everyone, with no reservation required. Specialized tours are available for $15 per person with advance reservations only.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Located in Exposition Park, just a few miles south of Downtown LA, Natural History Museum features more than 30 million artifacts and specimens. Some collections include gems and minerals, paleontology specimens (featuring fossils from Ancient Egypt), insects and arachnids, and recent wildlife dioramas.
Pasadena Museum of California Art
Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) is an art museum located at 4800 E. Villa Street, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA. It was founded in 1969 and presents both historical and contemporary art exhibitions. The present building has been its home since 2002.
5) Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits
The Page Museum houses 20,000 fossils that date back as far as 40,000 years and are perfect for any fossil fan. Located on Wilshire Boulevard, it’s a great place to visit if you live in Los Angeles or you are planning a trip to visit family and friends. The museum is home to Ice Age mammals such as bison, sloths, mammoths and saber-toothed cats. It also has marine life such as seals and whales.
Long Beach Museum of Art
Its permanent collection includes works by some of today’s hottest artists, including those who have been featured on art shows like Project Runway. The museum also holds a variety of different events and exhibits that help to keep things interesting for both casual visitors and hardcore fans alike. The Long Beach Museum of Art is located at 2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90803.
Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM)
Founded by a Los Angeles printmaker and inspired by his love of folk art, CAFAM is housed in a historic 1930s-era building on San Francisco’s Mission Street. The museum’s permanent collection includes American decorative arts from roughly 1840 to present.
MOCA Grand Avenue
MOCA Grand Avenue is home to a rotating gallery of modern art as well as an impressive collection of experimental films and videos. The museum also features special exhibits, such as Disney: Magic, Animation and Sound and The End of Fun. Aside from its exhibition space, MOCA Grand Avenue hosts a number of events such as late-night parties. All guests are welcome on Thursdays when museums open their doors until 9 p.m. for evening socializing and music. On Friday nights, join other guests for drink specials at one of MOCA’s many bars or pop into its pizza restaurant for a slice. If you’re looking for something more low-key, stop by MOCA’s monthly Art Crawl—free admission offered with RSVP—for exclusive access to its artists in residence studios.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.