List of museums in Los Angeles facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Los Angeles is a huge city, and it's packed with amazing museums! A museum is a special place where interesting objects are collected, cared for, and shown to the public. These objects can be about art, science, history, or different cultures. This list will help you discover some of the cool museums you can visit in Los Angeles. Get ready to explore!

Art Museums
- Painting and Sculpture
History and Culture Museums
- Local and General History
- Cultural and Ethnic History
Science and Nature Museums
Special Interest Museums
Defunct museums
Images for kids

Art Museums

Los Angeles has many places where you can see incredible art, from old masterpieces to modern creations.

Painting and Sculpture

A+D Museum (Downtown): This museum is all about architecture and design. You can see changing exhibits that teach you about how buildings are designed, how rooms are decorated, and even how clothes and products are made.
American Jewish University Art Galleries (Bel Air): Here you'll find the Platt and Borstein Art Galleries, along with the Smalley Sculpture Garden, showing different types of art.
Armand Hammer Museum of Art (Westwood): Also known as the Hammer Museum, this place has a wide range of art. You can see French paintings from the 1800s, older European paintings, and American art from the 1700s to the 1900s. They also have sculptures and modern art.
Barnsdall Art Park (Los Feliz): This park is home to the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery and the famous Hollyhock House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It's a great spot to enjoy art and architecture.
Ben Maltz Gallery (Westchester): This gallery is part of the Otis College of Art and Design and features exciting contemporary art.
The Broad (Downtown): This is a modern art museum built by two generous people, Eli and Edythe Broad. It has a fantastic collection of contemporary art.
Cal State Northridge Art Galleries (Northridge): This university has several art galleries, including the Main, Summer, and West galleries, showcasing various artworks.
California State University, Los Angeles Luckman Fine Arts Complex and Fine Arts Gallery (University Hills): This complex features visual and performing arts, and the Fine Arts Gallery is part of the Department of Art.
Craft Contemporary (Miracle Mile): Located in Museum Row, this museum focuses on folk art and crafts.
Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden (Westwood): This beautiful outdoor sculpture garden is on the UCLA campus and is managed by the Hammer Museum.
Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (Downtown): This is a branch of the Museum of Contemporary Art, located in the Little Tokyo area.
Getty Center (Brentwood): One of the sites of the J. Paul Getty Museum, this museum displays classical sculptures, European paintings, drawings, and photography. It's known for its beautiful architecture and gardens.
Judson Studios (Highland Park): This place is an art gallery and also has workshops where you can learn about stained glass.
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (Hollywood): Also called LACE, this is a space for showing contemporary art and keeping records of visual arts in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Miracle Mile): Known as LACMA, this huge museum has collections from all over the world, including African, American, Chinese, European, and Japanese art. It also has costumes, textiles, and photography.
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (Los Feliz): Located in Barnsdall Art Park, this gallery focuses on art and artists from Southern California.
The Main Museum of Los Angeles Art (Downtown L.A.): This museum is dedicated to showcasing art and artists from Los Angeles itself.
Marciano Art Foundation (Mid-Wilshire): This museum features contemporary art.
Museum of Contemporary Art (Downtown): MOCA has its main branch on Grand Avenue, another in Little Tokyo, and a facility in West Hollywood. It's all about modern art.
REDCAT (Downtown): This is an exhibition space for the California Institute of the Arts and includes a public art gallery.
SPARC Gallery (Venice): This is a community art center and gallery.
USC Fisher Museum of Art (University Park): This museum features both contemporary art and old master exhibitions.
Velveteria (Downtown): This unique museum has a collection of velvet paintings!
Watts Towers (Watts): These are amazing outdoor folk art sculptures made by Simon Rodia. You can also visit the Watts Towers Arts Center nearby.

History and Culture Museums

Learn about the past, different cultures, and how Los Angeles grew.

Local and General History

Andres Pico Adobe (Mission Hills): This historic house is run by the San Fernando Valley Historical Society.
Autry Museum of the American West (Griffith Park): This museum is all about the art, history, and cultures of the American West. It was formed by combining several museums, including the Southwest Museum of the American Indian.
Avila Adobe (Downtown): This is the oldest house still standing in Los Angeles and is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.
Banning Residence Museum (Wilmington): This is the Victorian mansion of Phineas Banning, an important figure in Los Angeles history.
Bolton Hall Museum (Tujunga): Operated by the Little Landers Historical Society, this museum focuses on local history.
Campo de Cahuenga (Studio City): This historic site is where the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed, ending the Mexican-American War in California.
Centinela Adobe (Westchester): Another historic adobe house in Los Angeles.
Chatsworth Museum (Chatsworth): Run by the Chatsworth Historical Society, this museum is in a late 19th-century homesteader's cottage.
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument (Downtown): This area includes many historic sites like Olvera Street, the Avila Adobe, the Chinese American Museum, and the Plaza Firehouse Museum. It's a great place to learn about early Los Angeles.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) (San Fernando Valley): This park houses the Hall Of Liberty American History Museum.
Heritage Square Museum (Montecito Heights): This open-air museum has eight historic structures that tell the story of Southern California from the Civil War to the early 1900s.
Hill-Palmer Cottage (Chatsworth): Also known as the Homestead Acre, this historic house is operated by the Chatsworth Historical Society.
Hollywood Heritage Museum (Hollywood): This museum has old photographs from silent movies, movie props, and historical documents about Hollywood's early days.
Kleinrock Internet Heritage Site and Archive (Westwood): Part of UCLA, this is where the very first message was sent on the ARPANET, which was a big step towards the modern Internet!
Los Encinos State Historic Park (Encino): This park teaches about the history of farming in the area and has a historic adobe house.
Lummis House (Highland Park): This unique early 20th-century rock house is also known as El Alisal.
Muller House (San Pedro): This 1899 Colonial Revival house is run by the San Pedro Bay Historical Society.
Museum of the San Fernando Valley (Northridge): This museum focuses on the history, art, and culture of the San Fernando Valley.
Museum of Tolerance (Westside): This museum teaches about racism and prejudice around the world, with a strong focus on the history of the Holocaust.
Sepulveda House (Downtown): Part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, this historic house also serves as a visitor center with exhibits about the area.
Skirball Cultural Center (Brentwood): This center is home to the Skirball Museum, which has exhibits about Jewish culture, achievements, and the history of Jewish people in the United States.
Will Rogers State Historic Park (Pacific Palisades): This park is the ranch home of the famous entertainer Will Rogers.

Cultural and Ethnic History

California African American Museum (Exposition Park): This museum focuses on the history and culture of African Americans.
Chinese American Museum (Downtown): This museum explores the history and experiences of Chinese Americans in California, and also features fine art exhibits. It's part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.
Destination Crenshaw (Crenshaw Boulevard, Hyde Park): This is an outdoor museum being built to preserve the history and culture of African Americans in the area.
Fowler Museum (Westwood): Part of UCLA, this museum has collections of art and objects from ancient and modern cultures in Africa, Native and Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific.
Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (Downtown): Also part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, this museum highlights the history and contributions of Italian Americans in Los Angeles.
Japanese American National Museum (Downtown): Located in Little Tokyo, this museum focuses on Japanese American history, culture, and art.
Korean Cultural Center (Koreatown): This center teaches about Korean history and culture and has changing exhibits of traditional and modern art.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (Downtown): This museum explores the Mexican-American experience in Los Angeles and Southern California through art and culture, including recreated 1920s Main Street scenes.
Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust (Fairfax): Located in Pan Pacific Park, this museum is dedicated to teaching about the Holocaust and remembering those who survived and those who were lost.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the University of Southern California Libraries (Downtown): This is a collection of LGBT materials and presents exhibitions near the University of Southern California.
Oran Z's Pan African Black Facts & Wax Museum (South Los Angeles): This museum features wax figures, cultural artifacts from across the African world, and memorabilia related to Black history, including Negro League baseball.
Ralph J. Bunche House (South Los Angeles): Also known as the Ralph Bunche Peace & Heritage Center, this is the biographical museum of Ralph J. Bunche, a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Southwest Museum of the American Indian (Mt. Washington): While its galleries are currently closed for updates, this museum, now part of the Autry National Center, still offers programs and events focused on Native American culture.

Science and Nature Museums

Discover the wonders of science, from space to ancient animals.

California Science Center (Exposition Park): This museum is a fantastic place to learn about science. It has many exhibits, including the Space Shuttle Endeavour!
Discovery Cube Los Angeles (Lake View Terrace): Located near Hansen Dam, this museum is designed for children to learn about science in a fun, hands-on way.
Griffith Observatory (Griffith Park): This famous observatory has exhibits about astronomy, planets, stars, and the cosmos. You can also look through telescopes and see amazing views of Los Angeles.
Museum of Jurassic Technology (Palms): This museum has a very unusual collection of exhibits and objects that make you think about what is real and what is not!
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (Exposition Park): This museum has displays about animal habitats, dinosaurs, and ancient cultures. It also has a Discovery Center and an Insect Zoo!
Page Museum (La Brea Tar Pits) (Miracle Mile): This museum is located right at the famous La Brea Tar Pits, where fossils of Ice Age animals have been found. You can see many of these fossils here.

Special Interest Museums

These museums focus on specific topics, from movies to cars.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (Wilshire): This museum is all about the art of making movies and the history of the Oscars. It's located on the LACMA Campus.
African American Firefighter Museum (Downtown): See vintage fire trucks, read stories, and look at pictures and items from the first African American firefighters in Los Angeles.
Annenberg Space for Photography (Century City): This museum features changing exhibits of digital and print photography.
Battleship USS Iowa Museum (San Pedro): You can explore the USS Iowa (BB-61), a battleship that served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. It even hosted three U.S. presidents!
Bhagavad-gita Museum (Culver City): This museum uses dioramas (3D scenes) to illustrate stories from the Bhagavad-gita, a religious text.
Catalina Island Museum (Avalon): Founded in 1953, this is the only museum on Santa Catalina Island, covering its art and history.
Drum Barracks (Wilmington): This is a Civil War-era military facility with a museum that shows camp models and displays from that time.
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum (Downtown): This museum has collections of costumes, accessories, textiles, and perfumes.
Flight Path Learning Center & Museum (Los Angeles Airport): Learn about flying with aircraft, models, photos, and displays. They also have a library with old aviation magazines and manuals.
Fort MacArthur Museum (San Pedro): This museum tells the history of the fort and its role in defending the Los Angeles area.
Grammy Museum (Downtown): Located at L.A. Live, this museum explores the history of the Grammy Awards and features music artifacts.
Guinness World Record Museum (Hollywood): On Hollywood Boulevard, this museum features facts and feats from the world of record-breaking.
Hollywood Bowl Museum (Hollywood): See photos, listen to audio and video clips, and view memorabilia from performers at the famous Hollywood Bowl.
Hollywood Museum (Hollywood): Located in the Max Factor building, this museum has over 10,000 historical costumes, props, and set pieces from movies and movie stars.
Hollywood Wax Museum (Hollywood): See wax figures of movie stars, fictional characters, famous politicians, and even a Chamber of Horrors.
Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial (Various): Old Fire Station 27 in Hollywood and Old Fire Station 36 in San Pedro (also called the Harbor Museum) show the history of the fire department, antique equipment, and fire engines.
Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum (Griffith Park): Next to the Travel Town Museum, this place operates small model trains that visitors can ride. It also includes Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn.
Los Angeles Maritime Museum (San Pedro): Learn about local maritime history, diving, and fishing industries. See ship models, sailor's artifacts, and local history.
Los Angeles Police Museum (Highland Park): This museum has artifacts like photos, uniforms, badges, squad cars, and even bullet-riddled vehicles from the police department's history.
Madame Tussauds Hollywood (Hollywood): Another wax museum featuring famous figures.
Mission San Fernando Rey de España (Mission Hills): This mission includes the Archival Center Museum of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which has exhibits about the archdiocese's history, religious objects, and art.
Museum of Selfies (Hollywood): This museum has interactive exhibits like the Upside Down Room and a throne from Game of Thrones, perfect for taking fun selfies.
Nethercutt Collection (Sylmar): This museum has an amazing collection of over 130 antique, classic, and special interest automobiles.
Petersen Automotive Museum (Wilshire): Located in Museum Row, this museum showcases vintage cars, the history of cars in Los Angeles, and automotive art.
Plaza Firehouse Museum (Downtown): Part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, this museum is in a historic firehouse and displays late 19th to early 20th-century firefighting equipment and photos.
Point Fermin Lighthouse Historic Site and Museum (San Pedro): This is a restored lighthouse that now serves as a museum.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! (Hollywood): Located on Hollywood Boulevard, this museum features strange and unusual exhibits.
SS Lane Victory (San Pedro): This is a Second World War cargo ship that has been preserved as a museum ship. You can explore it and learn about its history.
Travel Town Museum (Griffith Park): This museum has steam locomotives and other old train cars that you can explore.
Zimmer Children's Museum (Wilshire): This museum is specifically designed for children, offering interactive exhibits and activities.

Defunct museums

These museums are no longer open:

Animal Museum, closed in May 2017
ARCO Center for Visual Art, closed in 1984
Children's Museum of Los Angeles, closed in 2000
Sports Museum of Los Angeles, closed in 2016
VIVA Art Center – Valley Institute of Visual Art, Sherman Oaks, closed in 2011
Wells Fargo History Museum (Los Angeles), closed in 2020

Images for kids

A+D Museum
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
African American Firefighter Museum
American Jewish University Art Galleries
Andres Pico Adobe
Armand Hammer Museum of Art
Autry Museum of the American West
Avila Adobe
Banning Residence Museum
Hollyhock House at Barnsdall Art Park
Battleship USS Iowa Museum
Bolton Hall Museum
California African American Museum
California Science Center
Campo de Cahuenga
Centinela Adobe
Minnie Hill Palmer House (Chatsworth Museum)
Chinese American Museum
Craft Contemporary
Drum Barracks
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
Flight Path Learning Center & Museum
Fort MacArthur Museum
Fowler Museum
Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden
Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
Getty Center
Getty Villa
Grammy Museum
Griffith Observatory
Guinness World Records Museum
Heritage Square Museum
Hollywood Wax Museum
Hollywood Heritage Museum
Hollywood Museum
Japanese American National Museum
Judson Studios
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial
Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum
Los Angeles Maritime Museum
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery
Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
Los Angeles Police Museum
Los Encinos State Historic Park
Lummis House
Mission San Fernando Rey de España
Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Tolerance
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Nethercutt Collection
Neutra VDL Studio and Residences
Page Museum (La Brea Tar Pits)
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives
Petersen Automotive Museum
Plaza Firehouse Museum
Point Fermin Lighthouse Historic Site and Museum
Psychiatry: An Industry of Death
Ralph J. Bunche House
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Sepulveda House
Skirball Cultural Center
SPARC Gallery
Southwest Museum of the American Indian
SS Lane Victory
Travel Town Museum
Watts Towers
Will Rogers State Historic Park

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List of museums in Los Angeles Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.