Los Angeles, CA — The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) announce their slate of fall and winter programming for the Natural History Museum (NHM) in Exposition Park and La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park. This mix of family-friendly and adult programming and events features a wide range of exhibitions, hands-on activities, talks, and performances both in-person and online. In addition, NHMLAC community scientists will spearhead a number of research initiatives and expeditions open to the public that will highlight the museums’ ongoing impact and discoveries and allow Angelenos to get involved.
Below is a list of currently-scheduled* programming and exhibitions, as well as community science projects, research initiatives and new curator announcements. Visit NHM.ORG and TARPITS.ORG for future updates and more information
*All programs and events are subject to change. Check our websites for the latest information and updates
Natural History Museum
Unearthed: Raw Beauty — Featuring pieces of all sizes, shapes, and colors, Unearthed: Raw Beauty showcases the magnificence of some of the finest mineral specimens ever discovered. From learning about what gems, minerals and crystals are to the various ways NHM scientists use minerals to build a sustainable future, this exhibition invites guests to discover how specimens preserved from destruction can help us appreciate and understand our natural world. Unearthed reveals the natural beauty of minerals, because (unlike previous shows in NHM’s Gem Vault, which focus on cut gemstones) this exhibition will highlight amazing mineral crystals in their uncut state. Normally mined and ground up for raw materials, these spectacular specimens were preserved to inspire people to respect the natural wonders of our Earth. This temporary exhibition will feature incredible specimens loaned from the collection of eminent mineral dealer Dr. Robert Lavinsky (among others) alongside NHM’s own specimens. More information available at:
Schedule: On view December 14, 2025 – April 18, 2027 (Member Previews: Dec. 12-13)
Admission: Free with Museum admission
Día de Los Muertos — Join us as we honor the customs and heritage around Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a cultural tradition observed in Mexico and throughout Latin America to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Enjoy live music, participate in hands-on art activities, get an up-close look at NHM’s interpretive ofrenda (altar) for commemorating the dead in the Becoming Los Angeles exhibit, and more. More information is available at: nhm.org/ddlm.
Schedule: November 2, 11 am-3 pm
Admission: Free with Museum admission
LA on Wheels Day — The onsite celebration of a year-long series of stories focusing on the diverse communities of Los Angeles through the lens of wheels. NHM will host car and bike shows, live skate demos, hands-on art activities, storytelling sessions, and discussions with mobility justice advocates, builders, and more. Most activities are included with General Admission tickets and are perfect for all ages. More information is available at: nhm.org/la-wheels-day.
Schedule: November 22, 9:30 am-3 pm
Admission: Free with Museum admission, except the Charles Phoenix: Southern California in the 50s & 60s comedy show at 3pm ($30 per person)
Partners in Commons: Cultural Treasures Holiday Market — This holiday season, NHM is proud to partner with arts nonprofit LA Commons to present the Museum’s first-ever Cultural Treasures Market, a celebration of the rich cultural traditions, creativity, and resilience of the artisans, vendors, and small businesses of South Los Angeles and Altadena. The Cultural Treasures Market at NHM will be a joyful coming together of Angelenos to honor the creative spirit and strength of South LA and Altadena, as well as the culmination of LA Commons’ year-long 25th anniversary celebration. Come shop, connect, and celebrate the power of community and tradition!
Schedule: December 6, 12-5 pm
Admission: Free with Museum admission
Fierce! The Story of Cats — From ferocious tigers to beloved pets, Fierce! The Story of Cats is the exciting new exhibition at NHM that encourages guests to immerse themselves in the captivating world of cats. This temporary exhibition explores the diversity of cats — their behaviors, unique biology and complex relationship with humans. Spanning continents and the ages, Fierce! includes an array of incredible mounted specimens, interactive displays and cultural objects inspired by cats, offering an up-close-and-personal experience, highlighting cats’ beauty, diversity and predatory skills, all while illuminating the importance of protecting the world’s wild cats and their habitats. More information is available at: nhm.org/fierce.
Schedule: On view through February 18, 2026
Admission: $12 per person + Museum admission or free for Members
Ocean Encounters — Fun, educational, and interactive, the new Ocean Encounters live performance features life-size sea creature puppets for a prehistoric undersea adventure. Ocean Encounters is family-friendly, and each performance is about 20 minutes long. More information is available at nhm.org/oceanencounters.
Schedule: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 am and 11:30 am
Admission: $10 per person + Museum admission or free for Members
T. REX 3D Film — This captivating science adventure celebrates the greatest of all tyrants, starring NHM’s own Thomas the T. rex. The big screen production on this iconic dinosaur—and its carnivorous Cretaceous cousins—aims to be the most dazzling and accurate T. rex documentary ever made. More information is available at nhm.org/TREX3D.
Schedule: Showtimes vary by day
Admission: $10 per person + Museum admission or free for Members
Collective Knowledge from Our Changing World — Now open alongside the new NHM Commons, Collective Knowledge invites visitors to take a fresh look at NHM’s collections through the lens of photographer Craig Cutler. Twelve large-scale photographs bring objects and specimens to life, and behind-the-scenes stories highlight some of the incredible research taking place every day. More information is available at nhm.org/collectiveknowledge.
Admission: Free with admission
Animals Alive!* — Every week, meet our Living Collections team and their furry, scaly, slimy, or leggy friends that help make L.A. a biodiversity hotspot—along with creatures from all over the planet. Discover how they survive in our sprawling city as well as habitats across the globe, and what we can all do to help protect our animal neighbors. More information is available at nhm.org/animalsalive.
Schedule: Wednesdays, 10:30 am and 11 am
Admission: $5 or free for Members
*Animals subject to change
Collections Revealed — Every week, explore the 99% of Museum Collections not on display that drive research and discoveries at NHM and across the globe. From tiny marine invertebrates and extraordinary artifacts to newly described species and the oldest things on Earth, get an up-close look at the rarely seen Museum Collections we study and care for.More information is available at nhm.org/collectionsrevealed.
Schedule: Thursdays at 11 am
Admission: Free with paid admission or free for Members.
Spider Pavilion — NHM’s annual Spider Pavilion brings hundreds of our arachnid friends out to play for the fall. This is an unrivaled opportunity to get up close and personal with the orb weavers and other web developers that help provide the best natural pest control on the planet. Plus, you’ll be able to peer into the habitats of some eight-legged legends, like tarantulas, wolf spiders and jumping spiders. More information is available at nhm.org/spiders.
Schedule: On view through November 30, 2025
Admission: $8 + Museum admission or free for Members
Reframing Dioramas: The Art of Preserving Wilderness — The Natural History Museum’s historic diorama halls are the largest exhibitions at the Museum, showcasing over 75 incredibly detailed habitats ranging from arctic tundra to tropical rainforest. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the dioramas, NHM is restoring and reopening a diorama hall that has been closed for decades. There, visitors will experience immersive new installations — by artists RFX1 (Jason Chang), Joel Fernando and Yesenia Prieto (working as a three-artist team), as well as Saul Becker and Lauren Schoth — that call attention to dioramas as a unique combination of art and science and explore biodiversity, ecology, conservation, colonialism, and changing museum display techniques. This exhibition is part of PST ART: Art & Science Collide. More information is available at nhm.org/reframingdioramas.
Admission: Free with Museum admission
Nature Gardens Exploration — Swing by the Nature Gardens to dive into Nature Garden Explorations, tours led by Museum Educators and focused on topics such as birding, bug netting, nature journaling, and ponding. Topics rotate over the course of the year, so be sure to check online to see which explorations are currently available. More information is available at nhm.org/naturegardens.
Schedule: 11 am on weekends, meet near the pond in the Nature Gardens
Admission: Free with Museum admission
Scanning Electron Microscope Demonstration — Visit the Mineralogy Lab in the back of the Gem & Mineral Hall to see a live demonstration of NHM’s Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in action from our Curator of Polychaetes, Dr. Kirk Fitzhugh. This is a unique opportunity to get a real-life glimpse into technology often reserved for the world’s top laboratories (and often seen in movies).
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am
Admission: Free with Museum Admission
La Brea Tar Pits
Excavator Tour — The Excavator Tour explores the Fossil Lab, where real paleontologists work, our historic excavation sites, and Project 23, where live excavations can be seen. More information about excavations is available at tarpits.org/experience-tar-pits/excavations.
Schedule: 1 pm on weekdays; 10:30 am & 1 pm on weekends
Admission: Free with Museum admission
Discoveries from the Tar Pits — Drop by to learn some of the lesser-known stories of the Tar Pits, including active research and recent discoveries. Topics change daily.
Schedule: 3:30 pm daily
Admission: Free with Museum admission
Ice Age Encounters — Encounter the Ice Age as we dig into the past to uncover the mysteries of some of the extinct creatures who roamed Ice Age Los Angeles over 10,000 years ago. Experience this dynamic, 15-minute show featuring a life-size adult saber-toothed cat puppet, a live performance, and film projections that bring the distant past to life. This one-of-a-kind multimedia performance transports guests back in time to come nearly face-to-face with a moving, roaring extinct saber-toothed cat. Performed in an intimate theater setting, this show is great for the whole family and children of all ages. More information is available at tarpits.org/iceageencounters.
Schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 and 11:30 am, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Admission: $8 per person in addition to Museum admission or free with membership
*Please note: The saber-toothed cat puppet is very large and may be frightening to some children.
Museum Admission – NHM and La Brea Tar Pits
Members – FREE
Adult — $18.00
Senior (62+) — $14.00
Student — $14.00
Children (3 – 12) — $7.00
Children 2 and under – FREE
Unless otherwise noted, all events are included in the price of admission or free for members.
Admission is always free for NHMLAC Members, California Pre K–12 teachers with ID, Active or retired United States military with ID, CA EBT cardholders with ID, and USC Students and Faculty with ID. In addition, L.A. County residents receive free Museum Admission from 3-5 pm Monday through Friday.
Research Initiatives
The Collections Rescue Initiative, funded by the California Institute for Biodiversity, aims to safeguard California’s natural history so that researchers, students, conservationists, and the public can continue to benefit from these specimens. Through our funding, we will offer support for rescue, stabilization, documentation, and long‑term stewardship of eligible collections. Currently, NHM is working on projects involving collections from USGS, UCLA, Pomona College and NOAA/UCLA, however the project is also actively recruiting for more collections. More information is available at nhm.org/collections-rescue.
RASCals
The Reptiles and Amphibians of Southern California (RASCals) community science project is a partnership between NHM and the San Diego Natural History Museum designed to improve our knowledge of native and non-native reptiles and amphibians in Southern California. We need your help documenting reptiles and amphibians in the region to understand how various species have responded to urbanization. We are interested in native and non-native species in all types of habitats, from relatively pristine habitats to backyards, schoolyards, and urban parks. Submit photos and audio to the RASCals Project on iNaturalist or e-mail submissions to rascals@nhm.org.
SLIME
Snails and slugs Living in Metropolitan Environments (SLIME) is a community science project cataloging the biodiversity of terrestrial land snails and slugs throughout Southern California. NHM’s collection of land snails includes thousands of specimens from locations throughout the L.A. basin and spans the last 100 years. However, not much is known about this mollusk biodiversity today, especially within the cities of Southern California. Help us complete the first community science snail survey focusing on urban Southern California by finding snails and slugs, taking photos, and emailing them to us or uploading them to the SLIME iNaturalist page.
About the Natural History Museums
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) include the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park and La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park. Welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors annually — including more than 140,000 schoolchildren — the museums and the 35 million objects in their collections offer extensive and comprehensive libraries of natural and cultural history for guests, as well as groundbreaking scientific and historical research. NHMLAC also leads the natural and cultural exploration of Los Angeles County, offering a slate of community science and cultural programs both onsite and around the area. The museums help foster revolutionary community partnerships, innovative STEAM pathways, transformative community science programs, and cutting-edge research on climate and global change.
