Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Museum

Address: 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA

Website: https://nhm.org/

Hours: Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:00pm, closed Mondays (open some holidays)

Admission: Adults $15 (prices may vary); discounts for seniors, students and children

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is a major natural history museum in Exposition Park, Los Angeles; its institutional roots date to the early 20th century. The museum holds very large scientific collections used for research, display, and education.

Exhibits range from a large Dinosaur Hall with mounted skeletons and fossil material to galleries on regional biodiversity, prehistoric life, and earth sciences; the museum also operates outdoor Nature Gardens. Visitors come for family-friendly displays, temporary exhibitions, and educational programming for schools and community groups.

The institution developed through the 20th century as the county’s primary natural history museum and expanded its research collections and public galleries over decades. The museum maintains active research programs and curatorial departments that care for the collections and develop exhibitions.

The museum complex sits in Exposition Park in South Los Angeles, adjacent to the University of Southern California and near downtown Los Angeles. It is part of a cultural cluster that includes the California Science Center and sports venues within the park.

• Collections size: Collections include tens of millions of specimens and objects spanning paleontology, entomology, vertebrate zoology, and anthropology, making it one of the largest natural history collections in the western United States.
• Campus location: Located in Exposition Park beside the University of Southern California, it is close to other cultural institutions such as the California Science Center and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

What to See#

• Dinosaur Hall: A major permanent exhibition focused on dinosaurs with mounted skeletons and fossil displays, forming one of the museum’s most visited galleries.
• Nature Gardens: Outdoor Nature Gardens adjacent to the museum building that illustrate Southern California plant communities and provide space for educational programs.

Located in Exposition Park, south of Downtown LA. From the 110 Freeway, exit at Exposition Boulevard; from Downtown, it’s a short drive or Metro Expo Line stop at Expo Park/USC. Street parking is available but can fill up on event days.

• Arrive at opening (9:30am) to visit the dinosaur halls before school groups arrive.
• Buy a combined ticket that includes access to seasonal special exhibitions and the Nature Gardens.
• If pressed for time, prioritize the Dinosaur Hall and the African Mammal Hall - they are exhibit highlights.