Experience the best of Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Step into the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and journey through 4.5 billion years of Earth's history. Explore dinosaur fossils, gemstone collections, nature exhibits, and interactive displays that reveal the wonders of science, wildlife, and human cultures.

Loved by over 55 million guests worldwide

Slide 1 of 5

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Tickets

Explore at your pace

Explore the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County at your own pace with general admission, then enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes access with museum scientists.
Step inside working research spaces to see real fossils being prepared and preserved while learning how scientists study and care for these remarkable discoveries.
Wander through the museum's extensive galleries, where fascinating exhibits trace Earth's history through dinosaurs, wildlife, minerals, and ancient environments.
Hear captivating stories from museum experts that bring the iconic dinosaur collection and ongoing scientific work to life in an engaging way.
Enjoy the freedom to create your own museum experience, exploring the exhibits that interest you most without following a fixed group itinerary.

More details

Explore the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County at your own pace with general admission, then enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes access with museum scientists.
Step inside working research spaces to see real fossils being prepared and preserved while learning how scientists study and care for these remarkable discoveries.
Wander through the museum's extensive galleries, where fascinating exhibits trace Earth's history through dinosaurs, wildlife, minerals, and ancient environments.
Hear captivating stories from museum experts that bring the iconic dinosaur collection and ongoing scientific work to life in an engaging way.
Enjoy the freedom to create your own museum experience, exploring the exhibits that interest you most without following a fixed group itinerary.

from

$18

Pro tips to help you make a pick

Choose online timed entry if your date is fixed. It shortens or removes the ticket-purchase queue, but you still need to pass security and barcode scanning at the main entrance.

General Admission is the base ticket for permanent galleries such as dinosaurs, dioramas, Gems and Minerals, and Los Angeles nature exhibits. It does not include special ticketed exhibitions or seasonal pavilions.

If the Butterfly Pavilion or another named seasonal exhibit is a priority, pick a General Admission + Special Exhibit ticket. These add-ons use separate timed entry and can sell out sooner than base museum admission.

The standard ticket types described here are self-guided. If you want commentary or structure, look for scheduled public programs instead of assuming a guided visit is included with admission.

If you’re deciding between driving and transit, factor in paid Exposition Park parking and possible event-day price changes. The Metro E Line to Expo Park/USC is usually the simplest car-free option, with a roughly 3–5 minute walk to the museum.

Similar things to do in Los Angeles

Roller coaster loop at Knott's Berry Farm with palm trees in the background.

Knott's Berry Farm Ticketsfrom $65

Humpback whale breaching during whale watching tour in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Whale Watchingfrom $15

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with glass dome and palm trees in Los Angeles.

Academy Museum Of Motion Picturesfrom $25

Guests posing with Shakira's wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hollywood.

Madame Tussauds Hollywood Ticketsfrom $53.25

Family taking a selfie in front of the Universal globe at Universal Studios, Los Angeles.

Universal Studios Hollywoodfrom $76.97

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood entrance with superhero and wizard displays.

Warner Bros. Studio Toursfrom $80.36

Visitors observing marine life at the Aquarium of the Pacific, Los Angeles.

Aquarium of the Pacificfrom $49.95

Magic Mountain rollercoasters with loops and drops at Six Flags, LA.

Six Flags: Magic Mountainfrom $49

People enjoying TMZ Celebrity Tour bus in Los Angeles.

Celebrity Homes Tourfrom $37.83

About Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County

NHM links classic natural history displays with Los Angeles-specific nature and urban biodiversity exhibits. You can move from dinosaur skeletons and traditional mammal dioramas to galleries about regional geology, climate, and city wildlife, then add a seasonal experience like the Butterfly Pavilion. It is a strong choice if you want both broad natural history and content tied directly to Los Angeles.

Did you know?

NHM says it is one of the largest natural history museums in the western United States, with millions of specimens in its collections.

The museum is part of Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, which also includes La Brea Tar Pits and the William S. Hart Museum.

NHM’s main building dates to the early 20th century and is a designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

NHM is not only an exhibition museum; its scientists work in paleontology, mineralogy, botany, entomology, and local biodiversity.

The Butterfly Pavilion is set outdoors on the museum grounds, uses separate timed entry, and typically takes about 20–40 minutes to visit.

Why visit Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County?

Dinosaur Halls

The dinosaur halls are the museum’s main draw for many visitors, with large skeletal mounts and fossil displays arranged for dramatic viewing. They are usually the first stop for families and paleontology fans, and they anchor a focused visit if you only have a few hours.

Gems and Minerals Displays

NHM’s Gems and Minerals area showcases visually striking crystals, gemstones, and mineral specimens. Visitors who arrive for the dinosaur galleries often end up lingering here, since the displays add a very different look from the museum’s fossil- and diorama-heavy halls.

North American and African Mammal Dioramas

The mammal diorama halls feature life-sized taxidermied animals set within detailed habitat scenes. This traditional exhibit style remains one of the museum’s defining experiences, giving visitors a strong sense of animal scale and environment that flat images cannot match.

Los Angeles Nature and Urban Biodiversity

NHM gives unusual space to Los Angeles itself, with exhibits on regional geology, climate, and wildlife. These galleries connect prehistoric history to present-day city nature and encourage visitors to notice the biodiversity in their own neighborhoods and backyards.

Butterfly Pavilion

The seasonal Butterfly Pavilion adds an outdoor experience where you walk among free-flying butterflies. It requires a separate timed ticket beyond General Admission, and many visitors treat it as a short highlight that typically lasts about 20–40 minutes.

Plan your visit

Main North Entrance

Located on the north side of the museum facing the Exposition Park Rose Garden, this is the primary public entrance for all visitors. Timed-ticket holders and visitors buying tickets onsite use the same entrance sequence. After basic security or bag check, staff scan mobile or printed tickets here; visitors without online tickets or those needing ticket adjustments may need to stop at the ticket counters first. This entrance is step-free, with ramps and elevators inside for wheelchair users and strollers. It is easy to identify from Exposition Park and from Exposition Blvd, with the museum’s front facade visible just east of the rose garden. Lines are usually longer on weekends, holidays, and free-admission days.