Tucked in the expansive Exposition Park (between USC and the Los Angeles Coliseum), the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is a crown jewel of Los Angeles’ museums. Touted as the national leader in exhibitions, education and research, the Museum was L.A.’s first cultural institution to open its doors to the public in 1913. It is the largest natural and historical museum in the Western United States, with a collection of more than 35 million different specimens and artifacts, so it is fair to say the Museum is worth a few visits if you want to give it it’s due diligence.
Last week, I took the kids to see as much of the three floors of permanent exhibits as we could cover. We were greeted by the towering “Dueling Dinosaurs,” complete skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops in battle in the majestic Grand Foyer. At that point it was clear to me that this museum was going to be in pure Hollywood style - all about the lighting. Pools of light pulled us into each of the grand halls and past each of the exquisite dioramas.
In addition to special exhibitions (currently you can look through the glass and over the shoulders of the Museum’s paleontology team as they prepare the fossil of the Tyrannosaurus rex nicknamed “Thomas” in a specially designed exhibit room and lab) , the Museum boasts magnificent permanent halls that feature grand dioramas of African and American mammals, rare dinosaurs and fossils, marine animals, Pre-Columbian culture, and historical artifacts from California and Southwest history, as well as early Hollywood memorabilia. The exquisite Gem & Mineral Hall features the largest collection of gold in the United States.
At lunch we walked passed the Butterfly Pavilion (I think it is currently being transformed into the Spider Pavilion for the Fall Season), and grabbed a picnic table within view of the Rose Garden and enjoyed our spread.
The kid-friendly Ralph M. Parsons Discovery Center and Insect Zoo, located on the ground floor (more like the basement since you enter from above), provides interactive family learning with “handle-able” specimens such as shells and fossils; terrariums filled with insects, reptiles and amphibians; and Gallery Interpreters who answer questions and offer daily animal presentations.
In the Paleo Dig Pit [*photo above] which is also on the ground floor, kids learn can about excavation by digging for dinosaur bones and they get to spin off some energy. There is jars of molted snake skin for the kids to feel as well as leathered snake hide to handle.
Sited Links:
LA Museum of Natural History
Tags:
6-8 years,
9-12 years,
dinosaurs,
educational,
geology,
kid friendly,
museum,
natural history,
science
