There’s some amazing Museums in LA, and they cover the entire gamut of interests, styles, and spectrums. From classy to hilarious to outright weird, there’s something for everyone. Check out these curious collections that are definitely off the beaten path.
The Broad is Los Angeles newest modern art museum. It features Eli and Edythe Broad’s collection of 2,000 post-war works. Check out contemporary classics from Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. Best of all, admission to this museum is free, but be sure to make a reservation.
Privately funded, one of many museums in LA, specializes in photography, but takes a very innovative approach when it comes to its exhibitions. Exhibits incorporate videos and music for a very integrate experience that gets the viewer involved. Admission is free and Saturday evenings feature concerts and local music.
Featuring some of the best fossil collections on the planet, this museum in LA includes over 3.5 million fossils, including a 15,000 pound mammoth. The bones were found in the tar pit that bubbled up from a petroleum lake under the current location of Hancock Park.
Located in Downtown Los Angeles, the Grammy Museum is a cool LA museum which celebrates music legacy and shares the history of the Grammy Awards. Debuting in 2008, on the 50th anniversary of the Grammys, this museum features four floors filled with exhibits that are interactive, some permanent and some traveling pieces included. More than two dozen exhibits explore various music genres from Classical, to Hip Hop and Rock, and yes it qualifies as a family friendly thing to do in LA. Check out their website for special exhibition dates here. Oh, and if you’re feeling super hungry afterwards, head on down to a classic LA restaurant just a few block north called The Pantry.
This, another one of the fine museums in LA explores a delicate part of our natural human emotion: Love. Concentrating on broken love and failed relationships, this LA museum was installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but they have recently closed up shop and are currently looking for a new venue! The sadness continues… but stay tuned for any updates on a second opening on their website or instagram page. Their social media is actively updated and it’s definitely one of the coolest LA museums around, as surely you can’t compare a real love letter or disheveled furniture caused by an ugly or terribly sad break up.
A first of its kind, this museum located in Glendale (which is just a few miles north from DTLA), is devoted to art that incorporates neon lighting. The Museum of Neon Art (M.O.N.A) originally opened in downtown LA but closed in 2011. But alas, the M.O.N.A. was reopened in 2016 in “Jewel City.” Some of the coolest neon signs you can witness in this collection includes some from various historical LA landmarks, like the Chinese Theatre. Plus all the awesome neon signs call for a perfect photo-op to update on your social media, darling! Oh, and the location to the M.O.N.A. is prime! Venture out to The American for fine dining and shopping or walk north on Brand and try out the local restaurants Glendale has to offer. Our favorite is Carousel restaurant, you may have heard about it before if you’re a #KUWTK fan!
Glendale has definitely been an up-and-coming city in LA County over the past few years. Home to one of the busiest outdoor shopping malls, The Americana, it also has a unique history and yet another unique museum. Topping off our list of cool LA museums is The Museum of Selfies. You read that right… a museum devoted to a collection of self taken photographs. If you still don’t believe us, check out more information on their webpage here. Apparently, the selfie phenomenon dates back to 40,000 years ago! But hurry on down to experience the interactive exhibition as they are on a limited engagement from April 1st – May 31st!
Other museums in LA worth checking out include the Peterson Automotive Museum, the California Science Center, and the Griffith Observatory.