Los Angeles, California
The La Brea Tar Pits & Museum is a unique National Natural Landmark located in the heart of urban Los Angeles. It is the only active Ice Age fossil site in the world being excavated in the middle of a major city, offering a fascinating window into the prehistoric wildlife that roamed the area 11,000 to 50,000 years ago.
The main highlight is the Lake Pit, where asphalt (often called tar) still bubbles to the surface today. Inside the museum, visitors can see an incredible collection of fossils, including saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and mammoths. The Fossil Lab allows guests to watch scientists and volunteers clean and study newly discovered specimens.
Visitors can walk around the park for free to see active excavation sites like Pit 91 and Project 23. Inside the museum, you can explore Ice Age exhibits, watch 3D films, and see the world's only Tyrannosaurus rex growth series. Kids enjoy the "Ice Age Encounters" show featuring a life-sized adult saber-toothed cat puppet.
The site is great year-round, but visiting on a warm day makes the "tar" in the outdoor pits more active and bubbly. Weekdays are generally less crowded for the museum exhibits.
Walking through the surrounding Hancock Park to see the outdoor tar pits is free. Admission to the museum and its special 3D shows requires a paid ticket. The museum offers free hours for LA County residents on certain weekdays.
Facilities include the museum, a gift shop, public restrooms, an IMAX-style theater, and the surrounding Hancock Park with its Pleistocene Garden and picnic areas. Paid parking is available in a dedicated lot.
Download the park map to ensure you don't miss any of the outdoor excavation pits. Combine your visit with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) or the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which are located immediately next door on Museum Row.
Nearby attractions include LACMA, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and the historic Farmers Market and The Grove shopping center.