We get it—who wants to sacrifice a 72 and sunny day at the beach for cold, marble walls and sometimes-stuffy 18th-century portraits? Actually, ever visitor to LA should…Museums in Los Angeles rival some of the best that you’ll find in other world-class cities like Chicago and New York. If you must, wait for a rare rainy day, but we suggest going no matter the weather. Here are the best Los Angeles museums.
The Best Los Angeles Museums
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Spread over three floors and housing more than 150,000 works, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) constitutes that largest museum in the Western half of the United States. From now until October 15, check out the exhibit Home– So Different, So Appealing. In this collection, U.S. Latino and Latin American artists explore the idea of home, and the socioeconomic and political changes their native countries have undergone in the last 70 years. Los Angeles County Museum of Art: 5905 Wilshire Blvd.; 323-857-6000
Huntington Library
Focusing on 18th-century and 19th-century European art, as well as 17th to mid-20th-century American art, this museum is home to Thomas Gainsborough’s, The Blue Boy, and Edward Hopper’s The Long Leg. The museum is open and spacious, but if you’re ever in need of a little fresh air during your visit, check out the museum’s gorgeous specialized botanical landscaped gardens. Huntington Library: 1151 Oxford Rd.; 626-405-2100
The Broad Museum
Opened in 2015, this newcomer has a bold building (designed by the firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, shown above) and an even bolder collection. Nearly 2,000 works from the likes of Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein and Cindy Sherman draw crowds. It’s also an Instagrammer’s dream: nearly all of the pieces are showy enough to make for a great Insta post. The Broad Museum: 221 S Grand Ave; 213-232-6200
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM)
Animal habitats, dinosaurs, and the new “Nature Lab” recreating Southern California urban wildlife are some of the most popular exhibits in the Natural History Museum. If you go this summer, you will not want to miss the Butterfly Pavilion– hundreds of free-flying butterflies flutter around a collection of native plants, while museum experts hang around to answer all of your most pressing butterfly questions. Natural History Museum: 900 Exposition Blvd.; 213-763-3466
Getty Center
Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Getty Center’s campus of refined concrete and steel structures make it one of the most impressive architectural achievements in the United States. The museum offers free, 45-minute tours, and verdant courtyards, and stunning views of downtown L.A. Getty Center: 1200 Getty Center Dr.; 310-440-7300
Griffith Observatory
Its prominent feature in James Dean’s 1955 Rebel Without a Cause has made the Griffith Observatory an L.A. icon. More than just a pretty face, the facility houses an extensive array of space and science-related exhibits, like Foucault’s pendulum and Tesla’s coil. Griffith Observatory: 2800 E. Observatory Rd.; 213-473-0800
