Exposition Park is located across from USC and is
one of LA's cultural
hubs. This park is located off of the 110 freeway - well marked signs on the 110
indicate which exit to take. The Natural History Museum, California
Science Center including the Air & Space building, the LA Coliseum (home to
the 1932 and 1984 summer Olympics), the
sunken rose garden, the African American Museum and other outdoor
attractions are located here.
Admission to the Rose Garden, the African American Museum and
the Air & Space building are free. Exposition Park has its own
paid parking garage on Exposition Park Drive (off of South
Figueroa) although you can, if very lucky, |
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find a parking spot along parts of both sides of
Exposition Blvd directly across from USC and walk into the park through
the sunken Rose garden. Hundreds of various roses are planted in this
garden and its a relaxing place to either sit down or walk through.
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum stands behind the main museums - it was constructed in
the early 1920's and is a famed sports arena, having played host to two
Olympic summer games, two Super Bowls and one world Series. If there is
not an event being held when you visit you will not be able to enter as it is
surrounded by high chain link fence. You can however take some photos
with the Coliseum as your backdrop. Be sure to Photoshop out the chain
linked fence.
Be sure to also visit the teeter totter near the main parking behind the
IMAX & the Science Center. A several ton truck
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hangs from one end and at the
other end are ropes set along various distances of the other end of the
teeter totter.
You can pull down on the ropes
with not too much force and you will lift the entire truck -
almost effortlessly. (even kids can do this!) A United Airline
Jet and other military planes are anchored to the ground nearby
and make good photo opportunities.
Local Expo Park attractions:
www.nhm.org - Natural History Museum
www.lacoliseum.com - LA Coliseum
www.casciencectr.org - California Science Center includes a
large IMAX theatre
www.caamuseum.org - California African-American Museum |
Museums
The California African American Museum is a
short walk from the first (top) floor of the parking garage. This rather
small museum has several different wings (galleries) and features
rotating works of art often by popular African American artists.
Admission is free - allow about 30 minutes to 1 hour for viewing. Visit:
www.caamuseum.org
The Natural History Museum is not to be missed. Currently most of
2 floors of exhibits are available for viewing in the main building.
Plans are in the works to open significant amounts of display space
including a major exhibit on dinosaurs in 2011 and in 2012 a history of
Los Angeles exhibit. We recently visited during the "first Friday" of
the month. This is an opportune time to visit; the museum stays open
until 10:30pm at night (normal closing is 6pm) and live bands and food
vendors setup shop within some of the exhibit halls. Walking into the
main entrance is almost like being in the movie "Night at the Museum"
with Ben Stiller. A large Triceratops dinosaur sits in the middle of
the elegant main room at the entrance.
Most people come to this for the live music, as a result we found the
exhibits to be extremely empty and we were the only people in some of
the exhibits. Another benefit of this particular day are some of the
southland's finest professors give short lectures on a variety of
research or museum related topics. Allow at least 2 hours here.
Some of the highlights at this museum are their extensive gem and
mineral collection, a major gold nugget collection (very coarse
specimens), the world's largest known Ammonite fossil, one of the worlds
only 5 carat cut red diamonds, meteorites, an intriguing insect
collection, a huge display of birds and a large exhibit focusing on
California's history. A well-stocked large Museum store is located on
the main floor. Visit:
www.nhm.org
The
California Science Center is the centerpiece of Exposition park -
this museum is all about the "hands on" experience and the exhibits are
well organized and are diverse in scope. Exhibits are fun for children
but are presented in a way that they are educational for adults as well.
This is certainly not a quick in and out museum - allow at least half a
day and maybe longer. Three floors are contained inside with a strong
emphasis on science and education based exhibits and "how things work". Displays with
unique themes do rotate - check the website for current exhibits. A ride
for the adventurous is available on the 3rd level. Try to ride a bike
across a tight wire; don't worry (too much) about falling - there is a
safety net!
Rotating exhibitions are diverse such as displays on mummies, the living
world, Los Angeles and the ocean.
There is even a small "Rot" room - with one of the highlights being
maggots feeding on raw meat! Admission is free. The only complaint we have about this museum is their
lack of diversity in the food court on the first floor: McDonalds and
Taco Bell and a basic cafe? Ouch.
An IMAX Theatre is located directly across from the main Science Center.
Tickets are purchased outside - shows usually run for about 45 minutes.
Visit:
www.casciencectr.org
The Air & Space Exhibits
are located inside its own building - about
a 8-10 minute walk from the main parking lot. This narrow building
contains 4 floors with one side of the building focused on Air travel
and the other side on Space travel. The exhibits and information are a
bit outdated - there is a good collection of re-entry pods used in the
1960's.
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