The La Brea Tar Pits are located in the heart of the Miracle Mile district in Los Angeles, right next to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Pavilion for Japanese Art. Long before this time, 11,000 years ago precisely, Los Angeles was bustling with wildlife instead of cars and people. Many of the large and exotic mammals became extinct, but their fossils were captured and preserved by the La Brea Tar Pits!
The large lake pit and some of the asphalt seeps are still bubbling today! The reason is Natural Gas, and it sure makes you believe those faux mammoths are drowning right next to you.
Excavations of fossils at the La Brea Tar Pits began in 1913 until 1915. Later, when the museum built an underground parking structure in 2006, new fossil deposits were discovered. They were recovered in 23 large wooden tree boxes and are currently still being excavated by paleontologists today.
Based on the plant fossils that were discovered in the La Brea Tar Pits, they re-created the vegetation that existed 10,000 – 40,000 years ago at the Pleistocene Garden. Make sure to take a walk through the gardens and imagine a city before humans living here! The expansive gardens are a great place to let the kids run wild and stop for a picnic.
After ice age creatures are excavated outside, they are brought inside to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum. You can see over 1 Million fossils from 650 species, and visit the fossil lab and see how paleontologist uncover fossils up close and personal!
There is also a 3D movie theatre, which we did not visit yet. This might be fun with young children around 5 years and older!
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
5801 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Open daily 9.30am – 5pm (except New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas)
For Tickets and Pricing, this way!
Museum is free every First Tuesday of the month!
The museums parking lot is located at the corner of Curson Ave. and 6th Street, directly behind the museum. $15 flat rate for parking.
For nearby restaurants and attractions, this way!
