La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
@tarpits.org
TEMPORARILY CLOSED. The Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research at La Brea Tar Pits will reopen in 2028. 🐾 http://linktr.ee/thelabreatarpits
🗣️ Time’s running out, young scholars! Debuting this September, explore how STEAM is at the heart of every aspect of our Museum—from researchers and caretakers to artists and communicators—through five resource-filled sessions. Apply now through August 15: go.nhm.org/steam-teen-c...
Published in the journal Science, a new study by NHM researchers shows that Mexico acted as a biodiversity "holding pen" for 10 million years ahead of the Great American Biotic Interchange that opened the floodgates between North and South America 2.8 million years ago.
10-million-year-long Mammal Layover in Mexico Primed the Pump for the Great American Biotic Interchange Between North and South America
Published in the journal Science, a new study by NHM researchers shows that Mexico acted as a biodiversity "holding pen" for 10 million years ahead of the Great American Biotic Interchange that…
go.nhm.org
🦖🦣 When two ancient titans face off, who would really win? Friday, August 21, join us alongside Rextooth Studios' Ted Rechlin for an epic battle to crown the toughest champions of the dino and Ice Age eras with “Prehistoric Fight Night” at the NHM Commons Theater!
Prehistoric Fight Night
Join Rextooth Studios’ Ted Rechlin, award-winning graphic-novelist, animator, film-maker and science communicator, as he goes head to head with museum experts to battle it out and crown the toughest…
go.nhm.org
A small amount of carbon can give us a whole lot of information, allowing scientists to build a timeline of animals and environments that existed during Ice Age L.A by measuring traces of carbon. Discover how ancient fossils are shaping new research: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-res...
Wonder what animals of the late Pleistocene snacked on? Through examining microscopic plant fragments from the teeth of Western horse and ancient bison specimens, scientists discovered their diet consisted of leaves and twigs from Rancho La Brea. Take a closer look: go.nhm.org/horsing-around
🌎 One planet, countless life stories. The 83-foot-long mural once displayed at La Brea Tar Pits depicts the history of life on Earth—from the planet’s origin five billion years ago to the present, each inch representing approximately five million years.
In sunny California, shade is always a hot commodity, but during extreme heat, it becomes a necessity. The La Brea Tar Pits tell the story of how shade has been a resource that has changed over time.
Shade, Then and Now
Discover the changing tree line of L.A. through the lens of La Brea Tar Pits fossils—and the evolving presence of shade in our warming climate
go.nhm.org
A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who stopped by during our final days. See you in 2028!
Thanks to our friends at the Concern Foundation for having La Brea Tar Pits and @nhm.org at their #ConcernBlockParty! Cali joined members of our Performing Arts and Research & Collections teams for a “wild” safari-themed night out, all in the name of cancer research.
👋 Goodbye for now! Thank you for your incredible support! As we begin our exciting transformation to reimagine La Brea Tar Pits, home of the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, we want to express our deepest gratitude.
👋 Final countdown. What message would you leave for the staff?
I was lucky enough to visit when I took a short trip to LA a couple of years ago. If you can, go see it before it changes! The vintage exhibits are very cool. I'm sure it'll still be cooler in 2 years, but that's gonna wait!
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum@tarpits.org · last mo.‼️ T(ar)-minus 10 DAYS to go! For nearly 50 years, La Brea Tar Pits has been one of L.A.'s most beloved treasures, and it's about to become something even more extraordinary. Experience the #TarPits in its vintage state now through July 6 before our two-year makeover! tarpits.org
🦣 Our doors may be closing in a week, but the memories can last a lifetime! Shop official La Brea Tar Pits merch now through July 6 and save 25% with code TARTARFORNOW25: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-shop
🦴 It isn't always easy to identify the sex of fossil mammals. While males tend to be larger than females, it’s the variations between individuals that speak louder than size alone—such characteristics are related to sexual dimorphism.
⚽ We’ve got two new ways to show your team spirit this season! Celebrate your passion for the beautiful game and museum pride with our brand-new museum-themed scarves—which one are you rooting for? @nhm.org: go.nhm.org/team-nhm-scarf @tarpits.org: go.nhm.org/team-tarpits...
‼️ T(ar)-minus 10 DAYS to go! For nearly 50 years, La Brea Tar Pits has been one of L.A.'s most beloved treasures, and it's about to become something even more extraordinary. Experience the #TarPits in its vintage state now through July 6 before our two-year makeover! tarpits.org
This Saturday, June 27, is your last chance for a Last Dance at La Brea Tar Pits!
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum@tarpits.org · 2mo ago🪩 June 27, we’re gonna party like it’s 1977! Ahead of our 2-year transformation, join us for 𝘵𝘩𝘦 disco party of the decade before saying 𝙩𝙖𝙧-𝙩𝙖𝙧 to the Tar Pits… for now. Celebrate nearly 50 years of mammoth memories with us: go.nhm.org/last-dance Capacity limited. 70s-theme strongly encouraged!
PaleoCalifornia Part 2 is out! It is a WebXR educational theme park ride featuring Creative Commons models from @tarpits.org. View it in any web browser or in VR headsets at www.paleoca.com! #WebXR #AFrame #ThreeJS #EduSky
🦣 To those who inspire and uplift even in the stickiest of situations. Happy Father's Day!
oh no! go see while you can! I like the giant wall of dire wolf skulls. 🐺💀
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum@tarpits.org · 2mo ago⏳ Just one month to go... There’s still time to make some memories before the makeover! La Brea Tar Pits closes for its two-year renovation beginning July 7, 2026. Make sure to create some #TarPits memories—tag us and share your memories before we say 𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳 for now!
If you've never been, put it on your list. A surreal experience. Giant pit of tar, full of fossils. A step back in time. A Ray Harryhausen movie waiting to be made. In the middle of goddamned Los Angeles.
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum@tarpits.org · 2mo ago⏳ Just one month to go... There’s still time to make some memories before the makeover! La Brea Tar Pits closes for its two-year renovation beginning July 7, 2026. Make sure to create some #TarPits memories—tag us and share your memories before we say 𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳 for now!
In further support and celebration of Juneteenth, we're happy to share we're expanding our free hours to provide complimentary access to both museums 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙖𝙮 this Friday, June 19! 🎟️ Free tickets will be available at any on-site museum ticketing desk.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County@nhm.org · 2mo agoIn honor of #Juneteenth, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County will offer free admission to all visitors from 3pm to 5pm, Friday, June 19! Free tickets will be available at any on-site museum ticketing desk.
🦥 Compared to larger sloths, the Shasta ground sloth was a smaller species with a tubular-shaped snout and fewer teeth. Their fossils are typically found in now-desert regions of the American southwest, and may have been present in L.A. during drier periods of the late Ice Age.
Encounter the Ice Age as we dig into the past to uncover the mysteries of some of the extinct creatures who roamed Ice Age Los Angeles over 10,000 years ago! Don’t miss two live performances of Ice Age Encounters today, Friday, June 12, at 11:30am and 1:30pm. tarpits.org/calendar/ice...
Ice Age Encounters
Dig into the past as we uncover the mysteries of extinct creatures who roamed Ice Age Los Angeles over 10,000 years ago. This dynamic, 15-minute show features a life-size adult saber-toothed cat puppe...
tarpits.org
🤳 Look closer—spot any of your favorite Paleolithic Animals? Step back into Ice Age L.A. through the eyes of legendary American Wildlife and Paleoartist Charles R. Knight!
This Friday, June 12, step into the Ice Age—and onto the dance floor—at a free, all-ages Summer Nights party! Enjoy the museum after hours, groove along to sets from @kcrw.com DJs, grab a bite from local food trucks, and more. Save your spot: go.nhm.org/kcrw-summer-...
⏳ Just one month to go... There’s still time to make some memories before the makeover! La Brea Tar Pits closes for its two-year renovation beginning July 7, 2026. Make sure to create some #TarPits memories—tag us and share your memories before we say 𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳 for now!
Encounter the Ice Age as we dig into the past to uncover the mysteries of some of the extinct creatures who roamed Ice Age Los Angeles over 10,000 years ago! Don't miss two live performances of Ice Age Encounters today, Saturday, June 6, at 1pm and 2pm. go.nhm.org/ice-age-enco...
