Top Los Angeles History Museums

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

When people are looking for THE history museum in Los Angeles, this is usually the one they're looking for. The

in Exposition Park includes the history of the earth from its geology to the development and evolution of life. The Dinosaur Hall and the Gem Collection are highlights. Check out the Visitors Guide to the Natural History Museum

George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits

The

More on Visiting the Page Museum at the LA Brea Tar Pits.

Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology

The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology located at the Webb School of California in Claremont, northeast of Downtown LA, houses an impressive collection of fossils documenting the history of humanity on earth from single celled organisms to dinosaurs and other North American mammals, as well as "the largest, most diverse collection of animal footprints on display in North America."

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The

More Los Angeles Area Art Museums

The Autry National Center

The Autry National Center in Griffith Park, including the Autry Museum of the American West, is a museum of the history of the American West. It contains the area's best showcase of Native American history in Southern California and beyond, as well as the history of cowboys in life, movies and television. More Entertainment Museums in LA.

Native American Museums and Attractions in LA

In addition to the Autry, Los Angeles has a variety of Native American museums and historic sites to educate the public about the California coastal Indians of the Los Angeles area and the history, arts and crafts of of Native American peoples across the country.

El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historic Site

El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historic Site at Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles appears on several of my lists of historic LA museums, as it's a good place to learn about Local LA History and includes the Avila Adobe, which is both a Historic Home Museum and a Historic Rancho. El Pueblo is also home to a couple Cultural Museums and a Firehouse Museum.

Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

100 S. The Grove Dr.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90036
(323) 651-3704
www.lamoth.org
The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust (LAMOTH) tells the history those who perished in the Holocaust and those who survived through artifacts and first person accounts.

Bowers Museum

The Bowers Museum in Orange County is both an art and history museum. It has the best collection showcasing the history of Orange County from the First Californians through the Mission and Rancho period.

LA Local History Museums

In addition to El Pueblo, there are dozens of local history museums around the LA area operated by various smaller cities and historical societies. Each one tells the story of the most significant citizens and companies of that particular area. Some are located within historic homes.

Missions, Ranchos and Adobes

The history of Los Angeles and Southern California is rooted in the Missions and Ranchos that preceded the establishment of cities in the area. Here is the list of historic Missions and Ranchos that are now museums you can visit.

Historic Home Museums in Los Angeles

In addition to the Ranchos, there are a variety of private homes that are significant because of their architecture or their inhabitants. These range from historic Victorian and Queen Anne homes to mid-century design showcases by famous architects.