LA Museums & Cultural Attractions Are Back
Art lovers rejoice. LA’s favorite museums and cultural attractions are welcoming back visitors with new exhibitions and immersive installations, many just a short distance from The Pearl. Ready to take a walk on the wild side? The LA Zoo and Aquarium of the Pacific have reopened, so you can commune with the animals while supporting important conservation efforts. Speaking of creature features, Universal Studios Hollywood is reopening with new activities including The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash and Jurassic World – The Ride. Please note that most venues require tickets to be purchased in advance. Check websites for health guidelines and other details.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
LACMA is open with with six new exhibitions including a video installation by artist Bill Viola called Slowly Turning Narrative, works by Japanese portrait artist Yoshitomo Nara and an exhibition called Cauleen Smith: Give It Or Leave It, which is made up of film, video, and installations by the L.A. artist. Visitors are required to make a reservation for a timed entry online and undergo an online health screening.
6060 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
The museum is reopening with three new exhibitions. The main exhibit is Supercars: A Century of Spectacle and Speed made up of about 30 really fast cars, Extreme Conditions featuring vehicles modified with extreme off-road capabilities, and Redefining Performance, a look at Porsche technology in its race cars and production vehicles. Visitors will need to make an appointment and will have two hours to walk through the venue. The Vault will be open with a separate ticket required.
The Autry Museum of the American West
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Autry rides again with the annual exhibition Masters of the American West, which is made up of paintings and sculptures by more than 60 Western artists, and When I Remember I See Red, comprising pieces from 40 Native American artists. The Autry is a museum dedicated to bringing together the stories of all peoples of the American West, connecting the past with the present to inspire our shared future. Advance reservations required.
10808 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230
Reopens May 1 The Wende Museum of the Cold War is an art museum, historical archive, and educational institution which preserves Cold War history. Named for the transformative period leading up to and following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the museum collects and preserves artwork, artifacts, archives, films, and personal histories from Cold War era Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, and challenges and engages the public through experimental exhibitions and interdisciplinary programming inspired by the collection. Advance reservations required.
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
The Hammer Museum is reopening on April 17 and welcoming visitors to their new exhibition Made in L.A. 2020: a version. The fifth iteration of the Hammer’s acclaimed biennial bridges east and west with complementary presentations at the Hammer and The Huntington. The Hammer Museum at UCLA believes in the promise of art and ideas to illuminate our lives and build a more just world by championing the art and artists who challenge us to see the world in a new light. Free advance reservations are available on a first come, first served basis every other Tuesday.
900 W Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Walk among beautiful butterflies in the seasonal Butterfly Pavilion. This springtime exhibition features hundreds of butterflies, colorful native plants, and plenty of natural light to help you see these creatures shimmer. With lots of flight space and a variety of resting spots, you’ll have one of the best views in Los Angeles of these amazing insects. Enter through the North Entrance and enjoy a stroll through the beautiful Nature Gardens on the way to the Butterfly Pavilion. All guests are required to reserve tickets in advance for the Butterfly Pavilion, as well as parking in the NHM Car Park.
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, California 91608
Universal Studios Hollywood officially opens to the public April 16, with tickets available online only. At this time, theme park visits are limited to California residents and attendance will be limited in accordance with government guidelines. Universal CityWalk and the Universal Cinema are open. Guests will be welcomed back with new attractions, including The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash and Jurassic World – The Ride. The former features “hyper-realistic” renditions of popular characters from the movie series, while Jurassic World features a 22 foot tall dinosaur to inject spine-tingling thrills into your experience.
936 Mei Ling Way
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Located in the heart of LA’s Chinatown, The Beauty War is a lush, immersive fine art installation. It is also a mirror maze, and a transcendental, emotional, and mind-expanding beauty experience. The Beauty War is not another food pop-up gallery, but a meaningful personal challenge. The title of the show, The Beauty War, refers to an integration of light and dark natural forces. You will see repeated examples of this light-and-dark integration in the exhibition. There are no clear answers, only suggestions. Draw your own conclusions for the best experience.
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
The LA Zoo is back. And a lot of adorable babies were born last year, including a litter of meerkat pups, a baby gorilla, a cute condor chick, and even a sweet little bighorn lamb. Come and see how these young ones are growing and thriving. Many of the animal are endangered species, and support for the zoo helps to save these creatures from extinction. Throughout the closure, the zoo continued to provide the 1,400 animals with world-class care, even without visitors and the critical revenue they provide. Advance timed-entry reservation is required for all guests including members.
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
The Aquarium of the Pacific is fully open. Visitors can explore all exhibits, including sea otters, sharks, sea jellies, frogs, and more in the Tropical, Northern, and Southern California/Baja Galleries. Advanced reservations are required and important safety protocols are in place HERE
Photo credits:
Photo #1: LACMA
Photo #2: LACMA
Photo #3: Petersen Automotive Museum
Photo #4: The Autry Museum of the American West
Photo #5: The Wende Museum
Photo #6: The Hammer Museum
Photo #7: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Photo #8: Universal Studios Hollywood
Photo #9: Cakeland LA
Photo #10: Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Photo #11: Aquarium of the Pacific