Los Angeles, CA

The Architecture & Design Museum, also known as the A+D Museum, explores the work of important regional, national and international designers. Become more aware of the architecture and design in everyday life when you visit the many design exhibits-architecture, interior design, fashion, graphic design and film design, to name a few.

Address: 6032 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 - MAP
Phone: (323) 932-9393
Web: www.aplusd.org

Celebrate the diversity and history of the American West at the Autry National Center. The Center contains three institutions with huge collections and multiple exhibits. The Southwest Museum contains a vast collection of Native American art, textiles and jewelry. The Museum of the American West displays many artifacts and the Institute for the Study of the American West shares its research about the area.

Address: 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027 - MAP
Phone: (323) 667-2000
Web: www.theautry.org

Located near the California Science Center, the California African American Museum opened its doors to the public in 1981 in order to share the history, art and culture of African Americans with all Angelenos. Permanent and traveling exhibitions use a wide range of art and artifacts to educate the museum's guests.

Address: 600 State Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90001 - MAP
Phone: (213) 744-7432
Web: www.caamuseum.org

Visit the place where Los Angeles was founded. El Pueblo De Los Angeles is near the original 1781 settlement, and has developed into a living museum. The area, in the historic and symbolic heart of the city, celebrates the Native American, African American, Spanish, Anglo, Mexican, Chinese, Italian and French cultures that made up early Los Angeles history and culture.

Address: 125 Paseo De La Plz., Ste 400, Los Angeles, CA 90012 - MAP
Phone: (213) 485-3730
Web: www.ci.la.ca.us

Housed in the oldest surviving structure of LA's original Chinatown, the Chinese American Museum is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. As such, the mission of the Chinese American Museum is to use art, cultural artifacts and historical facts to "foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of America's diverse heritage."

Address: 425 North Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 - MAP
Phone: (213) 485-8567
Web: www.camla.org

The Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Culture Center, or the Hammer Museum as it is more commonly referred to, is an art museum specializing in key single-artist and thematic exhibitions of historic or contemporary work. Originally created to house Armand Hammer's personal art collection, the museum is now operated by UCLA's School of Arts and Architecture and has expanded to include the Billy Wilder Theater.

Address: 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024 - MAP
Phone: (310) 443-7000
Web: www.hammer.ucla.edu

Learn about the first 100 years of South California's development at the Heritage Square Museum. Heritage Square consists of eight historic structures from the Victorian Era. Saved from demolition, these buildings have been preserved and restored to demonstrate the rich history and architecture from the 19th century.

Address: 3800 Homer St., Los Angeles, CA 90031 - MAP
Phone: (323) 225-2700
Web: www.heritagesquare.org

Opened in 1913, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is the largest museum in the western US. Walk through 4.5 billion years of history as you stroll through the exhibits. Artifacts, fossils and specimen dating back from prehistory to today are preserved and displayed on all three floors.

Address: 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007 - MAP
Phone: (213) 763-3466
Web: www.nhm.org

Enjoy all forms of art at the Norton Simon Museum. This art museum contains works from Europe, Asia and the Americas in its permanent collection. These pieces range from 14th century Renaissance oil paintings to early Baroque to modern and contemporary art. Beautiful marble sculptures line the galleries and the Front Garden and fill the extensive Sculpture Garden.

Address: 411 W Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105 - MAP
Phone: (626) 449-6840
Web: www.nortonsimon.org

Car aficionados won't want to skip the Petersen Automotive Museum. Founded by the creator of Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines, this extensive automotive museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The museum owns over 200 vehicles and displays 100 to the public. Learn about the history of the automobile, visit the interactive exhibit to learn about the way a car works, or take a tour of the facility.

Address: 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 - MAP
Phone: (323) 964-6356
Web: www.petersen.org

Explore and celebrate the enduring legacies of music at the GRAMMY Museum. This interactive and educational museum devotes itself to the history and winners of the Grammy Awards as well as the influence of musical icons. The GRAMMY features a permanent collection of musical artifacts, including items from the Beatles, Bob Marley and Michael Jackson.

Address: 800 W Olympic Blvd., Ste A245, Los Angeles, CA 90015 - MAP
Phone: (213) 765-6800
Web: www.grammymuseum.org

Half a block from the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theater you will find the Guinness World Records Museum. Based off the authoritative Guinness World Records books, this museum archives record-breaking achievements in a fun environment. Play with the interactive exhibits and read about some of the most unusual records in the world.

Address: 6767 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 - MAP
Phone: (323) 463-6433
Web: www.ripleys.com

Admire the work of contemporary Latino artists at the Latino Museum. This art museum is committed to bringing and sharing the rich history of Latino art and its modern incarnations with the greater Los Angeles community. In addition to the galleries and permanent collection, the Latino Museum also maintains an Education Center.

Address: 514 South Spring Street., Los Angeles, Ca. 90013 - MAP
Phone: (213) 626-7600
Web: www.thelatinomuseum.com

Admire art, collected from ancient to modern times, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. With over 100,000 pieces dating from all points in history, LACMA's seven-building complex is the largest encyclopedic museum west of Chicago and has reached international notoriety. Besides both permanent collections and traveling exhibits, the museum also hosts film and concert series.

Address: 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 - MAP
Phone: (323) 857-6000
Web: www.lacma.org

See the stars at the Hollywood Wax Museum. Take a photograph with some of the famous celebrities of today and years gone by-or at least, their wax doppelgangers. Feel like a guest on the red carpet as you walk through one of Los Angeles' most popular wax museums.

Address: 6767 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 - MAP
Phone: (323) 462-5991
Web: www.hollywoodwaxmuseum.com