Museums: A-E
Greater Los Angeles offers a wide variety of interesting, informative
and entertaining museums. Listed below are some of the more
popular ones:
ANGEL'S ATTIC: 516 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, 90401.
(310-394-8331)
This unique museum, housed in an 1875 Queen Anne Victorian
house, has a lovely collection of completely furnished antique doll
houses, antique dolls and toys. Many miniatures are available for
sale. Proceeds from sales and admission go toward a fund for
autistic children. You can make reservations to have a Victorian
tea at the museum for $7.50.
Hours: Thursday through Sunday
12:30–4:30.
Admission: $6.50 adults and $3.50 children 12 and
under; $4.00 for seniors. Metered street parking only.
AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
(562-590-3100)
This is one of the largest aquariums in the United States. Journey
throughout the Pacific Ocean’s three regions: Southern California/
Baja, the Tropical Pacific, and the Northern Pacific. Meet more than
12,500 animals, including sea lions, sea turtles, diving birds, and
sea otters. Touch the ocean’s ultimate predator in Shark Lagoon,
featuring over 200 sharks. Feed colorful birds from down under in
the Lorikeet Forest aviary. Talk to divers as they feed fish inside
the exhibits. Whales: A Journey with Giants, is a multi-sensory
experience of light, sound, and imagery. Cultural festivals, lectures,
classes, and various programs offered.
Open daily from 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m
Closed on December 25.
Admission is $20.95 adult (12+),
$11.95 child (3–11), $16.95 senior (60+), and free for children under
3 and Aquarium members.
www.aquariumofpacific.org
AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER
The Autry National Center is an intercultural history center
formed from the merger of three museums: the Southwest Museum
of the American Indian, the Museum of the American West (formerly
the Autry Museum of Western Heritage), and the Women of the
West Museum. The Autry National Center presents a wide variety
of programs and events throughout the year on diverse arts and
cultures of the American West. See below.
MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST (FORMERLY THE AUTRY
MUSEUM), 4700 Western Heritage Way
323-667-2000
The Autry Museum of Western Heritage is where the American
West comes to life, offering a unique opportunity to explore
exciting and inspiring stories of the people, cultures, and events
that have shaped the legacy of this vital region. The Autry Museum
is located in Los Angeles’ historic Griffith Park, across from the L.A.
Zoo with plenty of free parking. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday
through Sunday. Golden Spur Cafe is open Tuesday–Sunday 9 a.m.–
4:30 p.m. When the museum is open on holidays, the hours are
9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Admission is for museum members, $9.00 for
Adults, $5.00 for students and seniors 60+, $3.00 for children 3–12,
Free admission on the second Tuesday of each month.
Founded in 1991, WOMEN OF THE WEST MUSEUM in Boulder,
Colorado, was the first museum in the nation dedicated to tracing
and interpreting the history of women in all cultures in the
American West. The museum merged with the Museum of the
American West in 2002. Women in the West is now a gallery
detailing women’s themes at the Museum of the American West.
There are many items on display that reflect women’s part in the
history of the American West. Everyday objects reveal the ways in
which women from different background have experienced and
shaped the Western landscape.
www.autry-museum.org
CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM, 3720 Stephan White Drive, San Pedro.
310-548-7562
This small museum offers a large replica tide pool touch tank
with dozens of colorful sea creatures like starfish, keyhole limpets,
anemones, and sea urchins. A huge whale bone graveyard serves
as a playground where children can compare the size of whale
bones to their own. Visitors can also observe life under the sea in
shark, wave and surf tanks or the museum’s 34 aquariums. Special
programs such as field trips to grunion hatchings and natural tide
pools run throughout the year.
Open Tuesday–Friday from noon–
5:00 p.m.; from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. weekends.
Closed Monday.
No
admission charge. Parking in the museum lot is $7.00. There is a
suggested donation of $5.00 for adults and $1.00 for children.
www.cabrilloaq.org
CALIFORNIA AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM,, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park.
213-744-7432
The Museum explores the history, art and culture of African-
Americans in the Americas. Permanent exhibits include African
American Journey West, chronicling the African American journey
from the west coast of Africa to the west coast of America. It
includes artifacts from West Africa that demonstrate the art, history
and culture of the regions and provides insights into the unique art
and cultural contributions that African Americans made in opening
the Western frontier.
Open Wednesday–Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00
p.m. Open first Sunday of each month 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday. No admission charge. Parking is $6.00.
www.caamuseum.org
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER, Exposition Park.
323-724-3623
Through hands-on experiences, visitors learn about the universe,
the planet, life on Earth and human innovations. Attractions include
the high wire bicycle, where you ride on a one-inch cable 43 feet
above the ground and experience a thrilling lesson in physics;
BodyWorks, where you watch Tess, a 50-foot human figure, come
to life to explain how the body’s organs work together; and the
multisensory motion-based simulator, where you select your
experience. Scale a rock wall when you buckle in and ascend Cave
Climb, a 23-foot high rock-climbing wall at the Science Center. There
are also many exhibits for the youngest children. The museum gift
shop, the ExploraStore, has an incredible collection of scientific
and educational gifts, toys, kits and materials. The museum is open
seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is free. Parking is $6.00.
www.casciencectr.org
IMAX Theater - located in the California Science Center (see above).
213-744-2014
At seven stories high by 90 feet wide, this is the largest movie
screen in Los Angeles. Microscopic organisms stand nearly seven
stories tall, and giant creatures like the blue whale are actually
life-size on screen. The sheer size makes you feel as if you’re a part
of the action. Movies change every few months. Current features
include Deep Sea 3D, narrated by Johnny Depp; Dinosaurs Alive!
3D, narrated by Michael Douglas; and Hurricane on the Bayou,
shot before and after Katrina. Hurricane on the Bayou, told through
the personal stories of four musicians, is a musical celebration of
New Orleans, documenting Katrina’s powerful effects, and the
call to restore New Orleans and protect its surrounding wetlands.
Admission is $8.00 for adults, $4.75 for children 4–12 years, and
$5.75 for seniors.
www.casciencectr.org
THE CRAFT AND FOLK ART MUSEUM, 5814 Wilshire Blvd.
(323-937-4230)
This small gallery offers exhibitions of ethnic and contemporary
folk art, crafts, clothing, tools, religious artifacts, and decorative art.
The gift shop sells books, jewelry, ceramics and glassware.
Open
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.,
Thursday,
11:00–7:00, and Saturday and Sunday 12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Admission is $5.00 for adults; under 12 free; $3.00 for students with
I.D. and seniors.
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