La Brea Tar Pits
Natural asphalt pits in the middle of the city that still bubble. They have yielded huge numbers of Ice Age fossils, including mammoths and saber-toothed cats.
This natural asphalt seep in Hancock Park trapped vast numbers of animals over tens of thousands of years, and millions of Ice Age fossils have been excavated here. A sculpture of mammoths trapped in the tar pit stands by the lake, and the outdoor grounds are free to visit. The attached George C. Page Museum displays saber-toothed cats, a dire wolf wall, and a paleontology lab, with admission around $18. It is open roughly 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM daily. The tar smell can be strong, and visitors should stay behind the fences. It is right next to LACMA, so the two are easy to combine in one outing.
Opening hours
Museum 09:30–17:00; park open all day
Nearby sights
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- Original Farmers Market & The Grove
- Sunset Boulevard
- Hollywood Walk of Fame / TCL Chinese Theatre
- Dolby Theatre
- Hollywood Forever Cemetery