- Three world-famous habitat halls show African and North American mammals in their natural environments.
- The Museum is home to Megamouth, the world's rarest shark — a 14.5 foot long male that was the first to be placed on public view. Only 17 of the elusive sharks have been found since the first one was discovered in 1976.
- Dinosaur Exhibit Update
The Dinosaurs Hall, is currently closed and undergoing a complete renovation. The Museum's collection includes one of the few and finest Tyrannosaurus rex skulls, a growth series of Tyrannosaurus rex (a series of fossils ranging from juveniles through adults), a world-class collection of Mesozoic tetrapods and many other fascinating species. The new Dinosaur Halls (two complete galleries) will re-open in 2011. We understand that the dinosaur exhibits are a perennial favorite of our members and visitors. In response, the Museum is creating unique and interesting dinosaur experiences that will delight children and adults alike. The first of which is the Thomas the T. rex Lab. For more information on dinosaurs and the Museum's research, visit the Dinosaur Institute.
- Ancient Latin America Hall Update
The Ancient Latin America Hall is now closed. The archaeological collection from the great Aztec, Maya and Inca empires and their surrounding cultures is being conserved in preparation for a new exhibit. The objects from the ancient civilizations of the Americas – Southwest United States, Mexico, Central America and South America, are being installed in the new visible storage exhibit, Visible Vault: Archaeological Treasures from Ancient Latin America, opening January, 2009 on Level 2.
- Original Museum building (1913 Building & Rotunda)
The seismic retrofitting of the historic 1913 Building and Rotunda is complete. Construction on the new permanent exhibits in those galleries has begun, the first of which will open in 2010. To view an online photo gallery of the restoration of the Rotunda's famed stained glass dome, click here. A photo exhibit of the original construction of the 1913 Building is on view in the Museum on Level G.
- Animated birds, tree walk-through habitats and 27 separate learning stations are featured in the popular Schreiber Hall of Birds.
- The Marine Hall features intricate dioramas of sea life in California waters, from the inter tidal to the deep sea. Identifications of many of the animals and plants seen by beachcombers and scuba divers are provided.
- More than 2,000 gem and mineral specimens are on view in the Gem and Mineral Hall. The hall features one of the largest gold exhibits in the world, that includes over 300 pounds of natural gold along with gold mining artifacts and other memorabilia. The walk-through Hixon Gem Vault houses such spectacular treasures as exquisite star rubies, emeralds and sapphires.
- In the Ralph M. Parsons Discovery Center, located on the ground floor, the focus is interactive family learning. This is made possible with “handle-able” specimens such as shells and fossils, terrariums filled with insects, reptiles and amphibians, and Gallery Interpreters who answer questions and give daily animal presentations. There is also a simulated “dig pit” where kids can excavate fossils. The Discovery Center's residents include Cecil the iguana, Jay the python, and desert tortoises Sage, Acorn and Vanilla. The Insect Zoo houses tarantulas, desert iron clad beetles, scorpions, walkingsticks, velvet ants, hissing cockroaches, millipedes and medicinal leeches (rare in local insect zoos, and popular with our guests!).
- Zuni Fetishes - The exhibit case that features 99 carvings of the 3,951 fetish carvings donated by Dr. and Mrs. Boyd W. Walker in 1997 reflect the dynamic and diverse artistic skills of Native American peoples of the American Southwest who have carved small animals from stone and shell since ancient times. The portion of the entire collection on display is in the east stairwell between the first and second floors.
- Lando Hall of California History - This exhibition spans the Southwest from the 1500's through time and place to downtown Los Angeles in 1940. The gallery is organized chronologically and features twelve themes: Native Americans, New World Exploration, Spanish Outpost, International Competition, Mexican Territory, War with the U.S., 31st State, Craftsman Style, Agriculture, Land, Sea & Air, Motion Pictures, City of Los Angeles. In this hall the history of the past appears in both artifacts and the records of the people who lived there.
- The 2001 Docent Quilt has been affectionately created and donated to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County by the Docent Roundtable. Inspired in part by the quilts in Roland's Freeman's "Communion of the Spirits" exhibition (on display from March 18, 2001 to September 3, 2001) and by the Montclair (New Jersey) Craft Guild quilt, the 2001 Docent Quilt honors the Museum President and Director, Dr. James L. Powell, on the occasion of his retirement, and welcomes Dr. Jane Pisano as his successor.
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