The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum offers visitors an extraordinary window into prehistoric Los Angeles, where ancient asphalt seeps have preserved thousands of Ice Age fossils. When you visit, you'll witness active excavation sites with bubbling tar, examine remarkable fossil specimens including saber-toothed cats and mammoths, explore interactive exhibits explaining the science of paleontology, and even observe researchers working in the Fossil Lab. This unique attraction combines natural wonder with scientific discovery in the heart of urban Los Angeles.
History of the La Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits represent one of the world's most significant paleontological treasures, providing an unparalleled record of life during the last Ice Age. For over 50,000 years, natural asphalt has seeped from the ground in this area, creating sticky traps that ensnared countless animals and plants. The scientific significance of these deposits was first recognized in the early 1900s when excavations began revealing a treasure trove of perfectly preserved Ice Age fossils.
What makes the La Brea Tar Pits so significant is their exceptional preservation of an entire ecosystem from the Pleistocene epoch. Unlike most fossil sites that might preserve hard parts like bones and shells, the unique properties of the asphalt at La Brea have preserved even delicate items like insect wings, plant material, and microfossils, offering scientists a comprehensive view of prehistoric Los Angeles. Today, the site continues to yield new discoveries and serves as an active research facility where paleontologists uncover new fossils daily.
Geological Features of the Tar Pits
The fascinating geological processes at work at La Brea create a living laboratory where visitors can witness natural history in action. These unique features have made the site one of the first 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites globally.
Natural Asphalt Seeps: How the Tar Pits Formed
The tar pits aren't actually filled with tar but rather with natural asphalt (bitumen) that originates from petroleum deposits deep beneath the Los Angeles Basin. This petroleum slowly migrates upward through faults and fissures in the Earth's crust, reaching the surface where lighter components evaporate, leaving behind the sticky asphalt we see today. Visitors can observe this process firsthand as methane gas bubbles through the asphalt deposits and creates the illusion of boiling tar. These seeps are still active, demonstrating the ongoing geological processes that have operated here for tens of thousands of years.
The Lake Pit: A Central Attraction
The most recognizable feature at La Brea Tar Pits & Museum is the iconic Lake Pit, where life-sized replicas of mammoth families appear trapped in the asphalt. This large asphalt seep filled with water dramatically illustrates how animals became trapped. The bubbling surface of the lake demonstrates that geological activity continues beneath the surface, with natural methane gas escaping through the water. Standing at the edge of the Lake Pit, visitors can imagine the scene thousands of years ago when unsuspecting animals would approach what looked like a normal watering hole, only to become fatally trapped in the sticky asphalt beneath.
The Role of the Hancock Park Ecosystem
The 23-acre Hancock Park setting, with its carefully selected native California plants, helps contextualize how the ancient landscape might have appeared during the Pleistocene epoch. The park's ecosystem demonstrates how the geology of the area has shaped its biology throughout time. Walking paths through the park lead visitors past various active excavation pits, including Pit 91, which has been systematically excavated since 1915.
Fossils and Notable Discoveries
The remarkable preservation conditions at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum have yielded some of paleontology's most important Ice Age discoveries, providing scientists with invaluable insights into prehistoric ecosystems.
Iconic Ice Age Fossils Found at La Brea
The museum houses spectacular specimens that have fundamentally shaped our understanding of Ice Age megafauna. Perhaps most famous is the nearly complete skeleton of a female Columbian mammoth nicknamed "Zed," discovered during the construction of an underground parking garage in 2006. Other remarkable finds include wall displays featuring hundreds of dire wolf skulls, demonstrating the sheer volume of specimens recovered from the site. The fearsome saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis) — California's state fossil — is represented by numerous spectacular specimens, including full skeletal mounts showing how these predators would have appeared in life.
Types of Animals Preserved in the Tar
The diversity of species preserved in the asphalt is astounding, with over 600 species identified from the tar pits. Large mammals like American mastodons, ancient bison, ground sloths, and American lions capture most visitors' attention, but equally important are the smaller creatures preserved in the asphalt. Thousands of microfossils — tiny bones from rodents, amphibians, lizards, and birds — help scientists reconstruct the complete ecosystem. Even insect remains and plant materials have been recovered, providing a comprehensive picture of Ice Age Los Angeles. This incredible diversity makes the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum one of the world's most complete records of a prehistoric ecosystem.
Must-See Exhibits at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum
The museum offers several world-class exhibits that bring the Ice Age back to life. The centerpiece Fossil Lab lets you watch scientists and volunteers prepare recently excavated specimens — a rare opportunity to see paleontology in action. The "Titans of the Ice Age" exhibit features impressive full skeletal mounts of the site's most iconic creatures, including saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and ground sloths, displayed in dynamic poses.
For an immersive experience, the "Excavator Tour" takes you to active dig sites where you can observe the meticulous work of extracting fossils from the asphalt. The museum's 3D theater presents "Titans of the Ice Age," a film that transports viewers back 10,000-40,000 years to when these magnificent creatures roamed the Los Angeles Basin. Interactive displays throughout the museum allow hands-on learning, including touchable fossils and comparative anatomy exhibits showing how Ice Age species relate to modern animals.
Plan Your Visit With Los Angeles CityPASS® Tickets
Planning your visit to the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum in Los Angeles is simple, especially when you use Los Angeles CityPASS® tickets to maximize your experience. The museum is located in the Miracle Mile district, easily accessible by public transportation or car, with convenient parking available in the museum lot. Most visitors spend two to three hours exploring both the indoor exhibits and outdoor tar pits.
For the best experience, start your visit early in the day to avoid crowds, especially on weekends. Check the museum's daily schedule upon arrival to catch fascinating live presentations and demonstrations by staff scientists. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as you'll be exploring both indoor and outdoor areas.
After exploring prehistoric Los Angeles, extend your adventure to other top attractions in Los Angeles with Los Angeles CityPASS® tickets. These money-saving tickets give you access to multiple must-see destinations, allowing you to make the most of your trip while saving on admission costs.
Los Angeles Lodging
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Header Image Courtesy of La Brea Tar Pits and Museum