Recreation Free Museum Days Guide

Field trips can be free if you know when to go. You don't need a permission slip or chaperone—you just need us. Now don't get caught making out in the woolly mammoth exhibit or you're grounded, tiger. —Mai Dinh

Natural Wonders

Evolution versus creationism? Let's not go there. Just look at the stuffed animals and flowers. Pretty flowers.

Natural History Museum

This popular museum houses dinosaurs, bugs and dioramas about African and North American mammals. Admission is free every first Tuesday of the month.

George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits

Saber-tooth tigers, wooly mammoths and giant sloths. Who knew taxidermy was so cool? Admission is free every first Tuesday of the month.

Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

The 150 acres include the Rose Garden, with its 1,200-plus varieties; the Japanese and Zen Gardens; and the surreal Desert Garden. Admission is free on the first Thursday of every month.

Los Angeles County Arboretum

A sort of lesser-known cousin to the Huntington Library, Art Galleries and Botanical Gardens, the Arboretum makes up for its #2 stature with a plethora of classes and tours.

California Science Center

The center is an innovative, hands-on "edutainment" museum. The permanent gallery is always free.

Culture Clubs

There are cultures other than pop. Learn about them here.

Craft and Folk Art Museum

Indonesian shadow puppets? Zulu baskets? It's all traditional art. Admission is free every first Wednesday of the month.

Japanese American National Museum

This museum explores what it means today (and what it meant yesterday) to be Japanese in the United States. Admission is free every Thursday from 5pm-8pm and every third Thursday of the month all day.

Museum of the American West

The museum pays tribute to spaghetti westerns and Native American culture. Admission is free every second Tuesday of the month and every Thursday from 4pm-8pm.

Pacific Asia Museum

The museum is home to one of the largest Asian antiquities collections in the southwestern United States. Admission is free every fourth Friday of the month.

Fowler Museum at UCLA

With the mission of exhibiting art and artifacts from Africa, Asia and Latin America, the Fowler is open to not only UCLA students but also the public.

Art Now

Contemporary art doesn't have to be a head-scratching experience. But a head massage never hurts.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Grand Avenue

The museum houses abstract expressionist pieces to pop art to recent works by young artists. Admission is free 5pm-8pm on Thursdays.

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

This converted warehouse is where "too large for the California Plaza" installation art finds a home. Admission is free 5pm-8pm on Thursdays.

MOCA Pacific Design Center

This MOCA outpost has rotating exhibits of architecture, design and photography. Admission is always free.

Museum of Neon Art

The museum saves these pieces of contemporary art from being overlooked on the highway. Admission is free every second Thursday of the month from 5pm-8pm.

The Classics

Everyone can appreciate the masters of art. Well, if not, everyone can appreciate a free cultural experience.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

After seeing Mary Cassatt's "Mother About to Wash Her Sleepy Child," visitors can also see the plaza where Steve Martin roller-skated in L.A. Story. Admission to the museum's galleries is free every day after 5pm, and all day on the second Tuesday of every month.

Norton Simon Museum

Raphael, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Renoir, Monet, Degas, Picasso and Van Gogh--they're all here. Admission is free the first Friday of every month from 6pm-9pm.

Hammer Museum

Occidental Petroleum founder Armand Hammer left his collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including work from Monet, van Gogh and Pissarro, to the general public. Admission is free every Thursday.

The Getty Center

Reasons to visit include Claude Monet, Andy Warhol, Walker Evans, Eugène Atget, Edmund Teske and Weegee. Admission to the Getty is always free.

Getty Villa

Modeled after a Roman villa, this branch of Getty's collection focuses on ancient Greek and Roman art. Admission to the Getty Villa is always free.

how do I get the Lane Victory a fully operational WWII ship, Berth 94, San Pedro www.lanevictory.org on to this site. We are a museum ship, with 2 fine martime museums on board, the ship itself is historic...

Posted 04/16/08 04:06PM PDT by jan volunteer

This is great... we need more info like this...

Posted 03/25/08 05:37PM PDT by patye

The Southwest Museum is open every Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5pm, with free admission.

Posted 02/29/08 10:06PM PST by Nicole

Does the California African Museum rate a mention?

Posted 02/22/08 01:42PM PST by Verdell Edmondson

... and your comment section has a glitch.

Posted 01/12/08 10:39AM PST by Kity

... and your comment section has a glitch.

Posted 01/12/08 10:39AM PST by Kity

It's true. It's as if Long Beach is located in some other county. Hello~

Posted 01/12/08 10:37AM PST by Kity

It's true. It's as if Long Beach is located in some other county. Hello~

Posted 01/12/08 10:37AM PST by Kity

It's true. It's as if Long Beach is located in some other county. Hello~

Posted 01/12/08 10:36AM PST by Kity

It's true. It's as if Long Beach is located in some other county. Hello~

Posted 01/12/08 10:36AM PST by Kity

You folks forgot to mention Long Beach on the free museum day. The Long Beach Musuem of Art is free EVERY Friday www.lbma.org as well as The Museum of Latin American Art also in Long Beach FREE EVERY Friday www.molaa.org

Posted 10/05/07 12:55PM PDT by Carlos

Please also list the african american museum in your cultural listings museum. this is a very fine cultural experience of the beginnings of life for a people that have contributed so much to the american experience.

Posted 07/21/07 11:33AM PDT by denise hampton