Museums open in Los Angeles are a great way to explore the city and its culture. From the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach to the Japanese American National Museum, there are plenty of places to visit and learn about the city's history. The Getty Villa, a coastal mansion full of antiques, is also worth visiting. The Getty Center, a remarkable complex of pavilions, houses ornate French furniture, recognizable impressionist pieces and rotating exhibitions.
Urban Light by Chris Burden is a piece composed of 202 cast iron street lights gathered from around Los Angeles and restored to work. It has quickly become one of the city's indelible landmarks. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) features modernist masterpieces, large-scale contemporary works, traditional Japanese screens and by far Los Angeles' best collection of art. The Hammer Museum at UCLA hosts fascinating contemporary art, photography and design shows, often with an emphasis on local artists.
The Norton Simon Museum is known for its impressive collection of old masters, in particular pieces by 17th century Dutch painters such as Rembrandt, Brueghel and Frans Hals. The Griffith Observatory museum is currently open from Thursday to Sunday and offers plenty of exhibits, including a Foucault pendulum, a Tesla coil and a planetarium show. The California Science Center is an Exhibition Park museum that explores life sciences, human innovation and motorized flight. The African American Museum documents the historical achievements of African Americans with a focus on black artists from California and the western United States.
The Autry Museum of the American West is an engaging exploration of all the peoples of the West (with a sizeable collection of Native American art). The Museum of Latin American Art tells the story of Latin American countries through its permanent collection. Finally, the Japanese American National Museum tells the story of Japanese immigration to the United States through its permanent exhibition and attractive list of documentary and art exhibitions.
