Beyond
fun in the sun and the glamour of Hollywood, Los Angeles is also
known as a first class destination for art enthusiasts. The city
is home to more than 2,000 museums, galleries, theaters and
music venues. Los Angeles has more museums per capita than any
other city in the nation. Below we have highlighted some of
the more popular museums to visit.
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Museums
Autry
Museum of Western Heritage - Opened in 1988, the
Autry Museum receives major support from the Autry Foundation.
Although Gene Autry was best known as a crooner of western
ballads, the spirit of this museum is the preservation and
acquisition of fine art, books, manuscripts, and artifacts that
document the American West and its history. (323)
667-2000.
California
African American Museum - as begun in 1977, and
opened to the public in 1981. It was temporarily located at the
California Museum of Science and Industry. The Museum opened in
its own building in 1984. CAAM’s 44,000 square foot
building contains a large front lobby, a research library, a
museum store, and several galleries that display both its
permanent and visiting collections. The California African
American Museum’s permanent collection focuses on works of art
from the 20th century, reflecting the African American
experience in the United States, and its large part in the
history and the diverse culture of California. Its various
changing exhibits not only display African influenced art, but
also portray African American history.
Craft
& Folk Art Museum - While its hours are now
reduced, the museum¹s second-floor galleries still boast a
rotating collection of fascinating work. Recent exhibits have
included "Dancing in the Streets: Carnival and Festival
Arts," a collection of carnival and festival photographs
and costumes from Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad, Belgium, Italy,
Germany and the U.S. The museum¹s first floor is devoted
to a gift shop chock-full of hand-made crafts from around the
world. A popular gift-buying spot for people who work
in the area, the museum¹s shop sells Guatemalan molas,
Tanzanian musical instruments and Japanese tea sets, among other
crafts. Future exhibits will feature the craft of
quilting, embroidery on Turkish rugs and cushion covers, and a
celebration of the life of author Zora Neale Hurston. 5814
Wilshire Blvd.
(323) 937-4230
Fort
MacArthur Museum - Still a work in progress, Fort
MacArthur Museum is committed to preserving and collecting the
relics that played an important role in Los Angeles' historic
Harbor Defenses. Battery Osgood-Farley itself has not gone
through much modification since it was built, and could probably
be the only type of gun battery of its kind left in the
continental United States. (310)548-2631
Museum
of Television and Radio - Founded on the belief
that television and radio have been major contributors to our
cultural history, the Museum of Television and Radio is a non
profit organization that offers a wide variety of opportunities
to study the impact that radio and television have had on our
society. From Wednesday through Sunday, it offers an extensive
library of television and radio broadcasts, two theaters, a
listening room, as well as several special exhibitions and
seminars that are open to the public.
Museum
of Flying - this museum is definitely worth
a visit. Both adults and children will enjoy many elements of
this ten year old museum. Built at the site where the Douglas
Aircraft Company manufactured, tested and produced military and
commercial aircraft for forty-six years, visitors of this
unique, non-profit museum can see a rare collection of civilian
and military aircraft through World War II. These include
fighter planes, "war-birds," the popular
"DC-3". Notably, the majority of the displayed
aircraft are in flight-ready condition. (310) 392-8822
Hollywood
Wax Museum - exhibits over 200 wax figures of
celebrities, historical figures, and movie characters. Some of
the figures are quite realistic, while others are virtually
unrecognizable. There is an eeriness in the air due to the
hundreds of pairs of glass eyes staring out at you, a mood that
enhances the spookiness of the Wax Museum’s Chamber of
Horrors. (323)462-5991.
Beyond
fun in the sun and the glamour of Hollywood, Los Angeles is also
known as a first class destination for art enthusiasts. The city
is home to more than 2,000 museums, galleries, theaters and
music venues. Los Angeles has more museums per capita than any
other city in the nation. Below we have highlighted some of
the more popular museums to visit.
