La Brea Tar Pits

Walk past bubbling asphalt seeps and active outdoor fossil excavation sites in Hancock Park while the museum is renovated.

5801 Wilshire Blvd · Los Angeles, CA

About La Brea Tar Pits

Natural asphalt seeps here have trapped Ice Age animals, and the oldest material found dates back about 38,000 years. Excavations have turned up Columbian mammoths, dire wolves, saber-toothed cats and ground sloths. The museum closed on July 7, 2026 for a two-year renovation, but areas of Hancock Park and the active outdoor dig sites stay open. Methane bubbles make the tar look like it is boiling, and scientist-led Insider Tours take you behind the scenes.

#tar pits
#ice age fossils
#paleontology
#hancock park
#fossil dig

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What's around here?

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