Experience NHM

THE NHM EXPERIENCE

Special Exhibitions

Experience the wonder of our newest exhibitions and experiences.

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Butterflies photographed from above on a pink background

Butterfly Pavilion

Walk among butterflies, colorful native plants, and plenty of natural light to help you see these creatures shimmer.

Open now - August 24

pink frame around two gemsbucks with antlers

Reframing Dioramas: The Art of Preserving Wilderness

Experience new immersive installations exploring dioramas as a unique combination of art and science.

Open now–November 15, 2025

Wolves and wolf pups walking along a sand bar in the middle of water with mountains in the background

Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan

Explore the history of our human relationship to wolves and the fascinating behavior of wolves free from human intervention.

Open now–September 17, 2025

Horizontal bronze-colored figure facing down, against a green background

Collective Knowledge from Our Changing World

Take a fresh look at NHM’s collections through the lens of photographer Craig Cutler.

L.A. Underwater

Explore the underwater realm of ancient Los Angeles when much of the L.A. area was submerged beneath the waves of the prehistoric Pacific Ocean.

Always on View

Explore permanent exhibits that offer something for visitors of all ages, from our iconic diorama and dinosaur halls to gems and native gardens.

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Group of visitors looking up at dinosaur skeletons

Dinosaur Hall

Dig into the enduring mysteries of these iconic animals and their ancient world with more than 300 fossils and 20 mounted skeletons on display.

Gem and Mineral Hall

Wander among more than 2,000 minerals, rocks, meteorites, and gems from across the globe.

A path with flowers and plants on either side, facing the 1913 building in the distance at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Nature Gardens

Explore a diversity of native plants and local wildlife in our botanical wonderland.

Closeup of light green skeleton head with neck and top of torso in the background

Gnatalie the Green Dino

Visit our newest and biggest dinosaur, Gnatalie, the only green-colored fossil specimen on the planet.

African and North American Mammal Halls

Our famous dioramas provide dozens of windows into the hidden world of wildlife and their natural habitats.

Age of Mammals

Experience the era of mammals as they evolve through drastically changing climates and shifting continents, through interactive kiosks and hundreds of specimens.

Events, Films, & Theater Programs

We're more than dinosaurs and nature! We offer a range of events and programming year-round.

See Our Calendar

Yellow and orange cloudy sky behind a brown, scaly T. rex dinosaur head and should

T. REX 3D Film

In the Commons Theater, see T. REX 3D which animates the life of T. rex, including NHM’s own Thomas the T. rex, in this all-new family-friendly film.

Shark head, ammonite, and Desmostylian puppets against a blue and green background with Ocean Encouters in aqua and blue text

Ocean Encounters

Dive into a prehistoric undersea adventure with our brand new, live performance starring life-size sea creature puppets.

Side view of tan and brown turtle against a white background

Animals Alive!

Meet our furry, scaly, slimy, or leggy friends in this multi-media presentation.

Closeup of two hands holding a display of tarantulas and other insects with shelves of display cases in the background

Collections Revealed

Get an up close look at the rarely seen Museum Collections we study and care for.

Wavy lines with the word Amplified resonating outwards in a pattern of green, yellow, and blue

First Fridays: Amplified

Experience an all-new season exploring the power of sound.

Orange border around Mairin Balisi, Emily Lindsey, and Jazlyn Mooney in black and white, against a maroon background

Elephant in the Room: Small Talk, Big Issues

Join us May 13 for Dire Wolves: Still Extinct?, exploring the mystery and known facts of dire wolves.

Bug Fair

Join us May 17 and 18 for the 39th annual Bug Fair, our two-day festival celebrating our bug-eyed and multi-legged friends!

Guided Tours & Activities

Meet up with a Museum Educator for the inside scoop on unique-to-NHM hangouts and happenings.

See Our Calendar

Museum Educator talking to a guest and gesturing towards dinosaur skeletons

Dinosaur Hall Tour

Discover the world of dinosaurs as we make our way through this award-winning exhibition with more than 300 fossils on display.

Monday–Thursday, 1 pm

Visitors looking up, holding binoculars to their eyes

Nature Gardens Exploration

Explore NHM’s one-of-a-kind Nature Gardens while learning more about urban wildlife.

Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am–12 pm

Closeup of a green lizard on a piece of wood

Meet a Live Animal

Get up close and personal with the Museum's resident animals and hear their amazing stories.

Daily at 3 pm

Scanning Electron Microscope Demonstration

Join an NHM scientist to learn how we use this important tool in discoveries about our natural world.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 am

Shopping and Dining

Enjoy a bite, take a coffee break, and bring the museum home with you.

Visit our cafes and gift stores