The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits is about to hit pause – closing its doors this summer for the first major renovation in its 50-year history. If you’ve been meaning to visit, mark your calendar – July 6 is the final day before construction begins.
But this isn’t a permanent closure. It’s the beginning of a major transformation.
Events Before Closure
Before shutting its doors, the museum will host two special events:
- June 12 – Free public KCRW Summer Nights event
- June 27 – Members-only, disco-themed dance party
The Reimagine Project
The renovation is being led by architecture firm Weiss/Manfredi and aligns with other initiatives, including the upcoming Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research.
The goal is to highlight the Tar Pits as:
- The only active paleontological research site in a major urban area
- A key resource for understanding past ecological and climate change
So far, the project has raised over $131 million, just past the halfway mark toward its $240 million goal.
What’s Coming to the Page Museum
The redesigned museum will introduce several new features:
- A new northwest entrance
- Expanded visible research labs and collections displays
- An immersive theater experience
- A rooftop terrace overlooking Hancock Park
The updated space aims to showcase the Tar Pits as a global scientific and cultural treasure, helping visitors better understand how past climate shifts inform today’s challenges.
During the Closure
Even while the museum is closed (expected to last about two years), visitors can still experience parts of the site.
You’ll still be able to:
- Watch real fossil excavations in progress (just from new vantage points)
- Walk through parts of Hancock Park, which will remain partially open
- Experience new outdoor paths and features as they’re gradually introduced
In other words, the digging and the discoveries never stop.
Keeping the Magic Alive
Not everything is changing. In fact, some of the most beloved features are here to stay:
- The famous lake pit and frieze
- The mammoth family sculptures
- The chance to see fossils being uncovered in real time
- And yes, the grassy hills people can’t resist rolling down
The redesign aims to enhance, not erase, what people already love.
Bringing the Tar Pits to You
While the museum is under construction, its reach will actually expand.
The La Brea Tar Pits Mobile Museums program will continue traveling across Los Angeles County, bringing hands-on science experiences directly to schools and communities.
A Reinvestment in our Future
This isn’t just a facelift. It’s a reinvestment in one of the world’s most important fossil sites.
The revamped Page Museum will help tell a deeper story about climate change, extinction, and survival, using the past to shed light on our future.
So while the doors may be closing for now, the next chapter is already taking shape.
