Step right up to one of the world's most famous active paleontological urban excavation sites, nestled unexpectedly right along Wilshire Boulevard. At the La Brea Tar Pits, natural asphalt has bubbled up from beneath the earth for tens of thousands of years, trapping prehistoric creatures and preserving their bones with astonishing detail. As you wander through the surrounding park, you can actually watch sticky black tar oozing from the ground and observe paleontologists actively excavating real Ice Age fossils at active dig sites. Inside the museum, your family will encounter towering articulated skeletons of mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, and dire wolves that once roamed ancient Southern California. Interactive exhibits allow kids to test their strength against the pull of real sticky asphalt, while the Fossil Lab offers a transparent window into scientists meticulously cleaning freshly uncovered bones. Outdoor walking paths weave past life-sized replicas of mammoth families near the bubbling lake pit, providing plenty of room for children to run while learning about natural history. It is an unforgettable, hands-on journey back in time that bridges wild natural science with modern city life in a way no other place on earth can match.
What to see at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
- Fossil Lab with live prep station
- Active excavation pits in the park
- Towering mammoth and dire wolf skeletons
- Interactive sticky tar pull demonstration
Visiting tips
Pair your visit with a relaxed picnic on the surrounding grassy park lawn.
How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Weekday mornings
How to get there & what’s nearby
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is easy to reach on Los Angeles’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Griffith Observatory and Santa Monica Pier. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Los Angeles travel guide.
See the full Los Angeles travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.