Autry Museum of the American West

The Autry Museum of the American West (Autry National Center) is a museum dedicated to exploring an inclusive history of the American West. Founded in 1988, the museum presents a wide range of exhibitions and public programs, including lectures, film, theater, festivals, family events, and music, and performs scholarship, research, and educational outreach. It attracts about 150,000 visitors annually.

Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday–Sunday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday: Closed 

Admission: Adults: $20; Students and Seniors (ages 62+): $15; Children (ages 3-12): $9. Click here for tickets.

    

 Cerritos Library

Cerritos Public Library has been voted the best library in the nation! There's a 15,000 gallon saltwater aquarium, a lighthouse, a T-Rex, an outside fountain with koi, and many events throughout the month. Click here to see a quick Instagram of all the features. 

Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: free.

   

 Angel's Flight Funicular Railroad

It takes you a block up a hill... not a big deal, but a cool piece of history since 1901! Click here to see a quick video. For Metro TAP Card users, a $0.75 fare is available for one-way trips. TAP cardholders must load Stored Value to ride.

Hours: Every day 6:45am-10pm. Admission: $1.50 each way.

   

Visit the Hollywood Sign

There are several ways to see the Hollywood sign... if you're up for a hike, you can get pretty close! Consider visiting the Griffith Observatory while you're there... also free! 

Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Admission: Free, but parking is pricey, unless you part at the bottom of the hill.

  

 California Missions Website

Visit this site for a listing of all CA missions... a great way to research a 4th grade mission report! If you're trying to decide on a mission for your report, click here to watch videos at each mission. 

Hours: Varying mission to mission. Check the missions website. Admission: varies.

 

 The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) Glendale

The Museum of Neon Art is the only museum in the world devoted exclusively to art in electric media, exhibiting electric and kinetic fine art, and outstanding examples of historic neon signs, for over three decades.

Hours: 12 noon to 7:00pm Thursdays-Sundays. Admission: Adults $10, children 12 and under free.

 The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

 The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the largest museum in the United States devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking. When I visited over the summer, they had RD-D2, C3PO, and a variety of costumes and scenes from movies. The Jaws Exhibition closes near the end of July!

Hours:10:00am to 6:00pm daily. Admission: Adults $25, children under 17 free.

 Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach

The Aquarium of the Pacific is the fourth most-attended aquarium in the nation. It displays over 11,000 animals in more than 50 exhibits that represent the diversity of the Pacific Ocean. Each year more than 1.5 million people visit the Aquarium. Beyond its world-class animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages from hands-on activities to lectures by leading scientists.

Hours: 9:00am to 6:00pm daily. Admission: Adults $49.95, 3-11 $34.95, seniors $46.95.

The International Printing Museum, Carson

 The International Printing Museum is a public non-profit organization and was founded in 1988 by David Jacobson and Ernest A. Lindner and features The Lindner Collection of Antique Printing Machinery.
Hours: 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturdays, Tuesday—Friday by appt. Admission: Adults $15, students $12.

Fullerton Museum, Fullerton

$10 admission/Free for Museum members
Step Right Up! takes viewers behind the scenes of the circus, exploring the dramatic pageantry, colorful past, and living presence of this grand American theatrical tradition. This stunning exhibit features posters, costume regalia, historic photographs, billboards, graphics and oral histories from past performers.

Hours: Monday: Closed; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday: noon to 4:00 pm; Thursday: noon to 8:00 pm. Admission: Adults $4; children 6-12 $1.

Capistrano Mission, SJC

Mission San Juan Capistrano, historic landmark and museum, is the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago as the 7th of 21 missions statewide, and one with a chapel still standing where Fr. Serra once celebrated Mass. Today it is a monument to California's multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. Originally built as a self sufficient community by Spanish Padres and Native Americans, the Mission was a center for agriculture, industry, education and religion.
Hours: Open Tues-Sun: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Admission: Adults $18, kids 4-11 $10.

Battleship USS Iowa, San Pedro

 The USS IOWA is located at Berth 87 at the Port of Los Angeles. Currently the USS IOWA can be seen from Harbor Way and will be lit nightly for a spectacular viewing opportunity.
Hours: daily, 9-5. Admission: adults $29.95; children 3-11 $21.95; seniors $26.95. 

The Paley Center for Media, Beverly Hills

 The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public.
Hours: Wednesdays to Sundays 12:00 to 5:00 pm; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission by suggested donation: Adults $10; Chilrden under 14: $5.

LA Fire Department Historical Society, Hollywood

 Today, the LAFDHS is home to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial, located in front of Museum 27 in the heart of Hollywood, California. A second regional facility, Museum 36, is based in San Pedro. The organization is also the caretaker of Old Fire Boat No. 2, the Ralph J. Scott, the longest serving piece of apparatus in the city's history at 77 years.
Hours: Hollywood: Saturdays only, 10-4. San Pedro: Saturdays only, 10-3. No admission fee is listed; call for info. (323) 464 - 2727. Give a call before you plan a visit.

Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena

Established in 1971, the museum is one of only four U.S. institutions dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands, serving the city of Los Angeles and the Greater Southern California region. The museum’s mission is to further intercultural understanding through the arts of Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Monday-Tuesday. Admission: $9-15; Free for children Ages 11 and under.

Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, Yorba Linda

Tour the museum at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, situated on nine acres in southern California just fifteen minutes from Disneyland. In addition to exhibitions, the grounds include President Nixon's helicopter and birthplace. Visitors are also invited to see the special exhibit galleries, which show a variety of rotating exhibits related to our mission as a national institution and local landmark.
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sundays: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Admission: adults: $16 ($26 over the holidays); children 7-11: $6 ($16 over the holidays).

Peterson Automotive Museum, Mid-Wilshire

 The Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration and presentation of the automobile and its impact on American life and culture using Los Angeles as the prime example. Encompassing more than 300,000 square feet, its exhibits and lifelike dioramas feature more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Hours: daily: 10:00am - 6:00pm. Admission: Adults $22, chidden 5-11 $13.

International Surfing Museum, Huntington Beach

 Included are sections for Duke Kahanamoku, surf music, surf art, classic surfboards and a Surf Theater devoted to the first Endless Summer movie which includes Bruce Brown's original camera.
Hours: 12 to 5 pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 12 to 9 pm, Tuesday; 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday. No admission prices are listed, but consider a membership for $20; support local art!

La Habra Children's Museum, La Habra

 The Children's Museum at La Habra opened in December 1977 and is located in a historic 1923 Train Depot. It features 7 galleries and 14 different hands on exhibits, many of which remain unique to the field today. In addition to these exhibits, an outdoor dinosaur topiary and historic 1942 caboose, the Museum features an exhibit which changes 4 times a year.
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Fridays open at 9 a.m. for CMLH Members; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed Mondays and all Major Holidays. Admission: $10 per person.

UCI Langson Orange County Museum of Art, Costa Mesa

  Welcome to the UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art on the Segerstrom Center for the Arts campus! Our new home brings together our collections, exhibitions, and programs under one roof, offering a more connected and expansive museum experience for everyone. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or are a frequent visitor, we’re excited to welcome you into this next chapter. Hours: Mon-Tues: CLOSED; Wed- Sun: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana

 Discovery Science Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young minds, assisting teachers and increasing public understanding of science, math and technology through interactive exhibits and programs. 
Hours: 10-5 daily. Admission: Children (ages 3-14): $23; Adults (ages 15+): $26; Seniors (ages 62+): $23; Parking: $10 (cash only)

Santa Ana Zoo, Santa Ana

  Hours: The Zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day & New Years Day. Daily: 10am - 4pm (grounds close 5pm) Admission: Adults (age 13+): $10; Seniors (age 60+): $7; Children (age 3-12): $7.

The Hollywood Museum

 The building that houses today’s Hollywood Museum at 1660 North Highland at Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood was originally purchased by Max Factor, legendary make-up artist to the stars, in 1928, just moments before the Great Depression. It would not be until 1935 that it was finally opened.
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 10am – 5pm; closed Mondays & Tuesdays. Admission: Adults $15; 6-17 $12. Tickets must be purchased online; bring a printed receipt.

Skirball Cultural Center, West Side

 Hailed by The New York Times as "a lesson on how to connect the eye to heart and mind," the Skirball Cultural Center has established itself as one of the world's most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions, and among the leading cultural venues in Los Angeles. Its mission is to explore the connections between four thousand years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals.
Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed Mondays. Admission: Adults $20; children 2-12 $15.

Be sure to comment below to express your interest in traveling as a group.

The California Science Center, near USC

 We aspire to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone by creating fun, memorable experiences, because we value science as an indispensable tool for understanding our world, accessibility and inclusiveness, and enriching people's lives.
Hours: Open daily 10AM-5PM; free admission; parking is $15.

Bowers Museum, Santa Ana

 Founded in 1936 by the City of Santa Ana through a bequest from Charles and Ada Bowers, the Bowers Museum is one of California's finest and Orange County's largest museums. In 1986, the museum closed its doors for a period of self-study. In response to community needs and input, it reopened in 1992 as a new cultural center, and expanded children's programming in 1994 with the opening of the Kidseum.
Hours: TUESDAY - SUNDAY, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm; closed Mondays. Admission: Adults $18, Seniors $15, children under 12 free.

Be sure to comment below to express your interest in traveling as a group.

Hammer Museum, near UCLA

 The Hammer Museum explores the capacity of art to impact and illuminate our lives. Through its collections, exhibitions and

programs, the Hammer examines the depth and diversity of artistic expression through the centuries with a special emphasis on art of our time. At the core of the Hammer's mission is the recognition that artists play a crucial role in all aspects of human experience. The Hammer advances UCLA’s mission by contributing to the intellectual life of the University and the world beyond.
Hours: Tue - Fri 11am - 8pm; Sat & Sun 11am - 5pm; closed Mondays. Admission:  Free!

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Downtown

 Founded in 1979, MOCA is the only museum in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to contemporary art. It is committed to the collection, presentation, and interpretation of work produced since 1940 in all media, and to preserving that work for future generations. In a remarkably short time, MOCA has developed one of the nation's most renowned permanent collections.
Hours: MON 11am–5pm; TUES, WED CLOSED; THURS 11am–8pm; FRI 11am–5pm; SAT, SUN 11am–6pm. Admission: Adults $15; children under 12 free.

LA County Museum of Art, Mid-Wilshire

 (Yes, home of "Levitated Mass," the rock that traveled thru SoCal.)
With 100,000 objects dating from ancient times to the present, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in the western United States. A museum of international stature as well as a vital part of Southern California, LACMA shares its vast collections through exhibitions, public programs, and research facilities that attract nearly a million visitors annually.
Hours: Monday 11 am–5 pm; Tuesday 11 am–5 pm; Wednesday closed; Thursday 11 am–5 pm; Friday 11 am–8 pm; Saturday 10 am–7 pm; Sunday 10 am–7 pm. Admission: Adults $15; under 18 free. They also offer wifi in the museum and on the grounds. Click here to go to the online scavenger hunt when you visit!

Be sure to comment below to express your interest in traveling as a group.

Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, Mid-Wilshire

 Located in the heart of metropolitan Los Angeles, the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits is one of the world’s most famous fossil localities. This onsite Museum displays Ice Age fossils — including saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and mammoths —  from 10,000 to 40,000-year-old asphalt deposits.
Hours: Open 9:30 am to 5 pm every day of the year. Admission: Adults $12, 13-17 $8, 5-12 $5.

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Natural History Museum, near USC

 The mission of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is to inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds.
Hours: open seven days a week, 9:30 am - 5 pm. Admission: Adults $12, 13-17 $8, 5-12 $5.

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Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo

 The Japanese American National Museum is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to sharing the experience of Americans of Japanese ancestry. The founding of the Museum is a story of high hopes, remarkable achievements, frustration, and ultimately, success.
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: 11AM to 5PM; Thursday: 12PM to 8PM; closed Mondays. Admission: Adults $12, children 6-17 $6. *Free general admission every Thursday from 5 to 8 PM and every third Thursday of the month.

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The Autry Museum, Griffith Park

 The Autry is an intercultural history center dedicated to exploring and sharing the stories, experiences, and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West. Located in Griffith Park, the Autry’s collection of over 500,000 pieces of art and artifacts, which includes the collection of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, is one of the largest and most significant in the United States.
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays. Admission for adults is $14; children 3-12 $6.

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Griffith Park

 To serve the community, the Los Angeles Zoo will create an environment for recreation and discovery; inspire an appreciation of wildlife through exhibitry and education; ensure the highest level of animal welfare; and support programs that preserve biodiversity and conserve natural habitat.
Hours: open 7 days a week, 10am – 5pm. Admission: Adults (ages 13 - up): $16; Seniors (age 62 and up): $13; Children (ages 2 to 12): $11; Children (under 2): FREE; Parking: FREE.

Be sure to comment below to express your interest in traveling as a group.

The Huntington Library & Gardens, San Marino

 A private, nonprofit institution, The Huntington was founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington, an exceptional businessman who built a financial empire that included railroad companies, utilities, and real estate holdings in Southern California.
Hours: Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Adult admission is $34; 4-11, $15; Under 4 free.