Natural History Museum (NHM) of Los Angeles County

900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 763-3466
nhm.org

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County's stunning collection of three T. rex skeletons from a youngster to full grown adult is a one-of-a-kind exhibit not found anywhere else.

Dino lab invites the public to watch paleontologists at work, among the fantastic "Dinosaurs Encounter" displays. Animatronic puppets of a triceratops and tyrannosaur traveling the halls, permanent dinosaur finds, festivals and fairs throughout the year make this museum a must-explore in the Los Angeles area.

NHM Butterfly Pavilion  March 5-August 13, 2023

Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; timed 30 minute sessions
$8 + general admission ticket, NHM.ORG/butterflies

Visitors walk among hundreds of butterflies in an outdoor, open-air netted enclosure filled with colorful native plants and plenty of natural light, where they can see the stages of the butterfly lifecycle - from eggs to caterpillars and chrysalises. The Butterfly Pavilion houses up to 30 different species, including California natives like the Western tiger swallowtail and Common buckeye. Educators and animal care specialists share what makes these animals so special. 

About the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County: The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) include the Natural History Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, and the William S. Hart Museum. They operate under the collective vision to inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. The museums hold one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—more than 35 million objects. Using these collections for groundbreaking scientific and historical research, the museums also incorporate them into on- and offsite nature and culture exploration in L.A. neighborhoods, and a slate of community science programs—creating indoor-outdoor visitor experiences that explore the past, present, and future.

La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum
5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
213.763.3499
tarpits.org

Welcome to the only urban paleontological excavation site in the world focusing on Ice Age fossils from 10,000 to 40,000-year-old. Among the collection are saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and mammoths. The museum is open every day of the year except 4 holiday—Christmas, New Year's Day, 4th of July and Thanksgiving. An admission fee is charged, around $5-20, subject to change.

William S. Hart Park and Museum

24151 Newhall Avenue
Newhall, CA 91321
hartmuseum.org
Hart's gift to the public specified Hart Park and Museum are always free admission.

William S. Hart Park and Museum was owned by silent film era Western movies actor and director William S. Hart (December 6, 1864-June 23, 1946). Fascinated by the Old West, he acquired Billy the Kid's "six shooters" and was a friend of legendary lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. His shorts and films were known for their authentic costumes and recreations. He also may have been one of the first of a genre to create a brand for his trusty horse, a brown & white pinto called Fritz.

He never actually retired but did leave the movie industry for life on his ranch where he wrote quite a few books:

• Pinto Ben and Other Stories, 1919
• Injun and Whitey, 1920
• Injun and Whitey Strike Out For Themselves, 1921
• Injun and Whitey To the Rescue, 1922
• Told Under a White Oak Tree, 1922,
• A Lighter of Flames, 1923
• The Order of Chanta Sutas, 1925
• My Life East and West, 1929
• Hoofbeats, 1933
• Law On Horseback and Other Stories, 1935
• And All Points West, 1940

His immaculate Spanish Colonial Revival Style Mansion exhibits an impressive collection of Western artwork by famed artists: Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington, and Joe de Yong.

Mementos from the early days of film in Hollywood represent many Native American cultures, as well as Hart's personal furnishings.

The Museum includes a 1910 Ranch House with Hart's tack and saddle collection.

Located in scenic William S. Hart Park, the Mansion and the Ranch House are in a scenic setting with farm animals, a herd of American bison, picnic area, hiking trails, and a charming Western-themed Gift Store.