LOS ANGELES MUSEUMS

Armand Hammer Museum
of Art & Cultural Center
UCLA, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles 90024
310-443-7000
Open Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $4.50, seniors, students, faculty & alumni $3, UCLA students $1, 17 & under free; general admission free Thurs. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Discounted parking with validation.
L.A. received its second oil mogul's art monument in 1990, with the opening of the Armand Hammer Museum. (The first was J. Paul Getty's spectacular museum.) Hammer's collection of masterworks by such artists as Rubens, Rembrandt, Goya, Monet and Van Gogh forms the basis of some exhibits, but the museum has also hosted some impressive traveling shows of contemporary art. The museum's shop and bookstore are well-stocked and well worth a browse.

Autry Museum
of Western Heritage
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles 90027
323-667-2000
Open Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., some Mon. holidays. Adults $7.50, seniors & students $5, ages 2-12 $3, under 2 free.
Skillfully blending scholarship and showmanship, the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage is dedicated to preserving the real and imaginary history of the Wild West. The permanent collection covers everything from hand-tooled saddles to gear from cowboy movies and TV programs, including a charming Hopalong Cassidy children's room. A sculpture court is surrounded by Guy Deel's "Spirits of the West" master mural, and a theater features classic Western films and live performances. Guided tours are available by reservation. Don't miss the gift shop stocked with everything from Stetson hats to Native American jewelry and pottery.

The California African
American Museum
Exposition Park, 600 State Dr.
Los Angeles 90037
213-744-7432
Open Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission free; guided group tours available. Parking $5.
This twenty-year-old museum examines the art, history and culture of African-Americans. Various parts of the extensive permanent collection are always on view, including African art (masks, carvings), nineteenth-century African-American landscapists, an important group of assemblage work and sculpture from the 1960s and work by contemporary artists. There are changing exhibits as well.

California Heritage Museum
2612 Main St., Santa Monica 90405
310-392-8537
Open Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Adults $3, students & seniors $2, under 12 free; parking free.
This small museum in a historic house has a collection of items relating to California's cultural history, including toys and California pottery. A tiny gift store offers books, old-fashioned postcards and decorative items.

The Fowler Museum
of Cultural History
UCLA, Fowler Bldg. Los Angeles 90024
310-825-4361
Open Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m., Thurs. noon-8 p.m. Adults $5, seniors $3, UCLA faculty, staff, alumni & students $1, under 17 free; general admission free Thurs.


The Getty Museum
at the Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles 90049
310-440-7300
Open Tues.-Wed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Thurs.-Fri. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission free; parking $5, parking reservations required.
Welcome to the Acropolis of Los Angeles. This monument of gleaming rough-cut travertine, glass, waterfalls and reflecting pools is the controversial crowning achievement of modernist Richard Meier and cost approximately one billion dollars to build. A tram transports visitors up the steep slope from the parking lot, and from the moment you step into the stunning white plaza you are in another world. California artist Robert Irwin designed the Central Garden, which cascades down to a dramatic pool in which an island of azaleas appears to float on the water. The six buildings that make up the center are connected by courtyards, walkways and terraces with spectacular views, and the hilltop site itself covers 110 acres.
The Getty Center is composed of a museum and five institutes devoted to research, education and conservation. (The original Getty Museum in Malibu, housed in a replica of a first century Roman country villa, is closed until some time in 2001, when it will reopen as a center for comparative archaeology and cultures and will exhibit antiquities.) The Museum at the Getty Center displays the fabulously wealthy J. Paul Getty trust's impressive collection of decorative arts in 14 galleries designed in period styles to complement the furniture. The Getty has a nice collection of illuminated manuscripts, and while the painting and sculpture collections are spotty, there are certainly some splashy showpieces. State-of-the-art computer-controlled skylights bring natural light into the 22 paintings galleries. The museum also has one of the best collections of photographs in the world, though not much is on view. Interactive learning stations outside each of the museum's pavilions provide visitors with more information about exhibits.
Since it opened, the Getty Center has been L.A.'s biggest draw, and it's necessary to plan in advance for reservations if you intend to drive there and park. You can, however, arrive by bus or taxi without reservations. Try to plan your trip to catch the sunset, but if you can't, at least plan to enjoy the views from the terraces at either the cafe or the restaurant.

Heritage Square Museum
3800 Homer St., Los Angeles 90031
626-796-2898
Open Fri. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Adults $5, seniors & ages 13-17 $4, 7-12 $2, under 7 free; general admission free Fri. Guided tours available.
This open-air museum located in a historic preservation area presents exhibitions and programs covering the history of Los Angeles from 1865 to 1914. Historic buildings were moved here from all over Los Angeles and restored.

Hollywood Entertainment
Museum
7021 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90028
323-465-7900
Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in summer, Tues., Thurs.-Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in winter. Adults $7.50, seniors & students $4.50, ages 5-12 $4, under 5 free; parking $2.


The Huntington Library
Art Collections
& Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino 91108
818-405-2275
Open Tues.-Fri. 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Suggested donation: Adults $7.50, seniors $6, children & students $4.


Japanese American
National Museum
369 E. First St., Los Angeles 90012
213-625-0414
Open Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Adults $6, seniors $5, over age 6 $3.
Dedicated to presenting and interpreting the culture and history of Japanese Americans, this museum opened in 1992 in a landmark Buddhist temple. On a site just across the street, a stunningly beautiful 85,000 square-foot new building designed by Gyo Obata (who designed the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum) opened in 1999. The museum's permanent collection ranges from art to kimonos and reminders of the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Historical exhibits are artfully designed and include many homey, donated artifacts; art exhibits often honor American artists of Japanese descent. A database allows visitors to track Japanese American family histories.

Long Beach Museum
of Art/Sculpture Garden
2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach 90803
562-439-2119
Open Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Adults $5, seniors & students $4, under 12 free; general admission free first Fri. each month. Parking free.
One of the most dynamic and youthful museums in Southern California will be reopening in September, 2000, with a new building and 12,000 square feet of gallery space. The new building's exterior will complement the original 1912 California bungalow, which will now house the museum shop, cafe and administration, but the interior is strictly minimalist, in keeping with the contemporary and avant-garde art (with a strong bent toward video) exhibited. Shows change often, and the museum closes during installations, so be sure to call first. The view of the Pacific is stunning, the grounds are tranquil.

Los Angeles
Children's Museum
310 N. Main St., Los Angeles 90012
213-687-8800
Open weekdays to school groups only, open to public Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults & over 2 $5.


Los Angeles County
Museum of Art (LACMA)
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90036
323-857-6000
Open Mon., Tues. & Thurs. noon-8 p.m., Fri. noon-9 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Adults $6, seniors & students $4, ages 6-17 $1; general admission free second Tues. each month. Special exhibition prices vary. Parking free after 6 p.m.


Los Angeles County
Museum of Natural History
900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles 90007
213-744-3466 (DINO)
Open Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Discovery Center & Insect Zoo, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.). Adults $6, students, seniors & ages 12-17 $3.50, 5-12 $2, under 5 free; general admission free first Tues. each month. Parking $2 (in quarters).
This is a comfortable, old-fashioned institution, complete with a charming, coffered-ceilinged marble rotunda. Children are naturally drawn to the hands-on exhibits of the Discovery Center, but there's something for everyone here: a dinosaur gallery, a bird hall with walk-through habitats including Condor Mountain and a tropical rain forest, a most impressive display of gems in their natural states, a hall of Native American cultures, exhibits tracing life in the Southwest from 1540-1940 and a butterfly house where visitors can walk through a myriad of free-flying butterflies. There's an awe-inspiring exhibit of dueling dinosaurs in the entry hall.

MAK Center for Art
& Architecture L.A.
835 N. Kings Rd., West Hollywood 90069
323-651-1510
Open Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission $5.
Housed in the former studio-residence of internationally renowned architect Rudolf Schindler, the MAK Center is one of the most exciting educational centers for modern art and architecture on the West Coast. The Austrian-born Schindler was one of the pioneers of what we think of as California Modern. His designs were marked by generous amounts of redwood, skylights, outdoor fireplaces and spacious gardens. Groundbreaking exhibitions utilize both the interior and the gardens, with an adjacent bookstore offering a fine selection of books on Schindler, modern architecture, catalog of special exhibitions, postcards, bookmarks and more.

Museum of Contemporary
Art (MOCA)
California Plaza, 250 S. Grand Ave., Downtown
Los Angeles 90012
The Geffen (Temporary)
Contemporary at MOCA
152 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo
Los Angeles 90012
213-626-6222
Open Tues.-Wed. & Fri.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Adults $6, seniors & students $4, under 12 and members free; general admission free Thurs. 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
Since its 1986 launch, MOCA has come a long way in the quality of exhibitions, media and performing events it has programmed. The museum structure, designed by Arata Isozaki, is a triumph, with its beautifully proportioned and abundantly skylit galleries. The donation of 64 minimalist and neo-impressionist works from the collection of the late Barry Lowen, together with an acquisition from Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo, forms the cornerstone of MOCA's permanent collection. The museum paid $11 million for Panza's brilliantly uneven group of works by such figures as Mark Rothko, Franz Kline and Robert Rauschenberg. The permanent collection has been buoyed by noteworthy gifts of works by Jackson Pollock, Piet Mondrian and Alberto Giacometti, some 200 vintage and contemporary prints from the estate of L.A. photographer Max Yavno, and major works by Johns, Reinhardt, Diebenkorn and Warhol. An outdoor cafe serves tasty fare during the day. Be sure to get your parking validated to avoid the exorbitant charge. MOCA has also retained its original, temporary location in an old police warehouse that was overhauled in 1983 by Frank Gehry. It's affectionately known as the TC or Temporary Contemporary.

Museum of Flying
Santa Monica Airport
2772 Donald Douglas Loop N.
Santa Monica 90405
310-392-8822
Open Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $7, seniors & students $5, ages 3-17 $3, under 3 free.
Located on the north side of the Santa Monica Airport, the Museum of Flying features such historically significant aircraft as the "New Orleans," in 1924 one of the first to circle the world; an authentic air-worthy Spitfire and the Douglas DC3. It also has one of the most complete aviation and aeronautical libraries in the country. There are exhibits on both commercial and aerospace aviation, and on the history of the Douglas Aircraft Company. If you feel the need to come out of the romantic aeronautical past and into the scene-making 2000s, DC3 restaurant (310-399-2323) (see Restaurants)is adjacent to the museum, or take the short walk west of the museum to Cloverfield Park for picnics and sports facilities.

Museum
of Latin American Art
628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach 90802
562-437-1689
Open Sun. noon-6 p.m., Tues.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Adults $3, seniors $2, under 12 free.


Museum of Neon Art
501 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles 90015
213-489-9918
Open Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m., second Thurs. each month 5-8 p.m. Adults $5, seniors & students $3.50, children & members free; parking free in Renaissance Tower with validation.
This museum is a celebration of artifacts that light up and move. The collection includes both fine art neon work by artists (celebrated and emerging) and historic signage. Special exhibitions change every three months. Classes are available in neon design and technique. Be sure to inquire about the neon night cruises (via bus) of the city's dazzlers.

Museum of Television
& Radio
465 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills 90210
310-786-1000
Open Wed.-Sun. noon -5 p.m., Thurs. noon-9 p.m. Adults $6, students & seniors $4, children $3, members free; parking free.
A branch of the Museum of Television & Radio in New York, this former Beverly Hills bank was transformed by Getty architect Richard Meier into a sleek facility featuring exhibitions as well as screening and listening series using its computerized collection of over 100,000 television and radio programs. Covering more than 70 years of broadcasting history, the programs range from news, public affairs and documentaries to the performing arts, children's shows, drama, sports, comedy and advertising. The museum's state-of-the-art library has private consoles where visitors can screen or listen to selections from the museum's database. Industry heavyweights and well-known performers lead seminars in the theater; call for a schedule. The gift shop has an excellent selection of books and memorabilia.

Museum of Tolerance
& Simon Weisenthal Center
9786 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles 90035
310-553-8403
Open Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; call for tour times. Adults $8, seniors $6, students $5, children $3; parking free.


Norton Simon Museum
411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91105
818-449-6840
Open Thurs.-Sun. noon-6 p.m. Adults $4, seniors & students $2, under 12 free; parking free.


Pacific Asia Museum
46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101
818-449-2742
Open Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $5, seniors & students $3, under 12 free; general admission free third Sat. each month. Free parking.
This is the only museum in Southern California to focus on the arts of the Pacific Rim. Housed in the historic Grace Nicholson Building, it's authentically outfitted with a Chinese roof, tiles, koi pond and bronze dragons. The museum gift shop offers relevant books, jewelry, toys, masks, textiles and more.

Page Museum
of La Brea Discoveries
5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90036
323-934-PAGE
Open Tues.-Sun. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; park tours begin at 1 p.m., museum tours at 2 p.m. Adults $6, seniors & students $3.50, ages 5-10 $2, under 5 free; general admission free the first Tues. each month. Parking $7.50 ($2.50 refund with validation).
In spite of all those gleaming office towers and the ever-expanding LACMA, the famous La Brea tar pits continue to bubble up, giving us a glimpse of our primordial roots. After checking out on-going excavations from one of the observation pits in Hancock County Park, head into the museum, for a tribute to the creatures that once roamed Wilshire Boulevard. A hologram of a saber-toothed cat changes from skeleton to a realistic image, a miniature tar pit simulates the sensation of being pulled into the mire, and a paleontology lab allows you to watch scientists at work piecing together the past. There are several audio-visual presentations and a storeroom of drawers filled with fossil bones.

The Petersen Automotive
Museum
6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90036
323-930-CARS
Open Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Mon. except holidays. Adults $7, seniors & students $5, ages 5-12 $3.


Richard M. Nixon
Presidential Museum
& Birthplace
See Orange County chapter.
The Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library
& Museum
40 Presidential Dr., Simi Valley 93065
805-522-2977
Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $4, seniors $2, age 15 and under free.
This museum features permanent displays depicting the life and presidency of Ronald Reagan, including a full-scale replica of the oval office and a piece of the Berlin Wall. There are three exhibition spaces for temporary exhibits, which include American historical displays, as well as special art shows such as the paintings of Prince Charles.

Santa Monica
Museum of Art
Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave.
Santa Monica 90404
310-586-6488
Open Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Suggested donation adults $3, seniors, students & artists $2.
The Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMOA) has moved from its original spot on Main Street to Bergamot Station. In lieu of keeping a permanent collection, the museum presents diverse exhibitions, as well as performances and projects by lesser-known artists in new and unconventional contexts. The new 10,000-square-foot-space, which includes a book and gift shop and an education center, has been modified by the architectural firm of Narduli/Grinstein, but the exterior of the building retains its industrial flavor.

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles 90049
310-440-4500
Open Tues.-Sat. noon-5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $7, seniors & students $5, under 12 free.


Southwest Museum
234 Museum Dr., Highland Park 90065
323-221-2163
Open Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $5, seniors & students $3, ages 7-18 $2, under 6 free.
On a clear day, this hillside museum offers a commanding view of the mountains. The Southwest Museum is one of the city's treasures, as every local schoolchild knows. It showcases Native American arts and crafts and gives visitors a glimpse of what California and its neighboring states were like before the Spanish and American colonizations. The pottery and basket collections are especially good, as is the exhibit detailing Plains Indian cosmology, clothing and war rites. Rotating special shows feature everything from contemporary photography to prehistoric pottery. The gift shop is a favorite of collecting cognoscenti, and the Braun Research Library houses one of the world's finest collections of material on Native American cultures.