Overview
The La Brea Tar Pits sit in Hancock Park in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles — an improbable and genuinely remarkable site where natural asphalt seeps have been trapping and preserving animals for roughly 50,000 years. The sticky tar (technically asphalt, not tar) immobilized mammoths, dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, ground sloths, and thousands of other species during the Pleistocene epoch, creating one of the densest concentrations of Ice Age fossils ever found.
The George C. Page Museum, operated by the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, sits within the park and displays an extensive collection of fossils excavated from the pits. Importantly, this is not a static historical site — active excavations continue, and visitors can often watch paleontologists at work, making it one of the few urban fossil sites in the world where science is genuinely happening in public view.
The park itself is open green space on Wilshire Boulevard, free to enter and walk through. The museum requires a paid ticket (verify current pricing and hours on the official NHM website before visiting). The combination of outdoor fossil pits, the museum galleries, and real-time scientific work gives the site an educational depth that goes well beyond a typical museum visit.
Before You Go
Tickets and Hours
Admission fees and opening hours change periodically. Check the official Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County website (nhmlac.org) for current prices, any free admission days, and seasonal schedule changes before your visit. The museum has offered free admission on select dates in the past, but do not assume this will apply on your visit day.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes — the outdoor park has uneven ground near the pits
- Sunscreen and water, especially in summer; there is limited shade around the outdoor seeps
- Camera — the outdoor tar seeps and life-size mammoth sculptures photograph well
Accessibility
The museum building is wheelchair accessible. Some outdoor paths around the pits may be less smooth; verify current accessibility conditions on the official site or by calling the museum ahead of your visit.
Parking and Entry Logistics
Paid parking is available in a lot adjacent to the museum off Wilshire Boulevard. Street parking in the area is limited. The park's outdoor grounds are free to enter at any time; admission is only charged for the museum building itself.
Getting There
The La Brea Tar Pits are located at 5801 Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles, roughly midway between downtown LA and West Hollywood.
Public Transit
Los Angeles Metro Bus routes serve Wilshire Boulevard directly, with stops near the museum. Check Metro's trip planner (metro.net) for current routes and schedules. The Purple Line Metro Rail extension to this area was under development — verify current station status before your visit, as service may now be available closer to the site.
By Car
From the 10 Freeway, exit at La Brea Avenue and head north. From the 101, exit at Highland or La Brea and head south. Paid parking is available on-site; confirm rates locally or on the museum's website.
On Foot or Bicycle
The site is walkable from nearby neighborhoods including Fairfax and Mid-Wilshire. Bicycle racks are available. The Metro Bike Share network operates in parts of this area — verify availability through the Metro Bike app.
Things to See & Do
Museum Galleries
The George C. Page Museum houses an impressive permanent collection of Pleistocene fossils, including mounted skeletons of the Columbian mammoth, dire wolf, and saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis, California's state fossil). Interactive displays explain how asphalt preservation works and place the Ice Age fauna in ecological context. A glass-walled laboratory called the Fishbowl Lab allows visitors to watch preparators cleaning and cataloging fossils in real time.
Outdoor Tar Seeps
The park grounds feature several active asphalt seeps, including the famous Lake Pit where methane bubbles slowly rise through dark water. Life-size mammoth sculptures at the lake's edge are among the most photographed features of the site. The seeps are a constant reminder that this is a living geological process, not just a historical curiosity.
Project 23 and Active Excavations
During a parking structure construction project, excavators uncovered a major cache of fossils, leading to an ongoing multi-year excavation known as Project 23. Visitors may be able to observe this work from viewing areas in the park — availability varies by season and excavation status, so check with the museum on the day of your visit.
Hancock Park Grounds
The park surrounding the museum is a pleasant place to walk independently, with mature trees, public art, and the LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) campus immediately adjacent. Combining a Tar Pits visit with LACMA makes for a full cultural day in Hancock Park.
Food & Drink
There is a small café inside the George C. Page Museum; verify hours and current offerings locally, as museum dining options can change. The museum does not have a full restaurant.
The surrounding Miracle Mile and Fairfax corridor have a wide range of dining options within a short walk or drive. The Fairfax Avenue food corridor to the north offers everything from classic Jewish delis to contemporary casual dining. The Grove and Farmers Market (at Third and Fairfax, about a 10-minute walk) contain dozens of food stalls and sit-down restaurants and are a practical option for a meal before or after your visit.
There are no formal sit-down dining options inside the tar pits park itself. Picnicking on the park lawns is generally permitted; verify current park rules locally.
Practical Information
Essential Contacts
- Museum official site: nhmlac.org (Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County)
- Emergency services: 911
- Non-emergency LAPD: Verify the current non-emergency number for the Wilshire Division locally
Currency and Payment
All transactions in USD. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. There is no currency exchange at the site.
Photography
Photography for personal use is generally permitted throughout the museum and park. Flash photography and tripods may be restricted in certain gallery areas — look for posted signs or ask staff.
Tips for Families
The site is well-suited to children, particularly those aged 6 and up who can engage with the fossil displays. The outdoor seeps and mammoth sculptures tend to capture younger children's attention even before entering the museum. Check the museum's website for any scheduled family programming or guided tours.
Safety
Hancock Park and the Miracle Mile area are generally safe and well-trafficked during daylight hours. Standard urban precautions apply: be aware of your surroundings, keep valuables secured, and avoid leaving items visible in parked cars.
The outdoor tar seeps are fenced for safety — do not attempt to touch or step near active asphalt seeps, which can trap and injure people much as they trapped prehistoric animals. Signage makes this clear throughout the park.
Wilshire Boulevard is a busy arterial road; use marked crosswalks and exercise standard pedestrian caution when crossing.
