BE ADVISED: On Thursday, October 17 our museums will participate in a brief earthquake drill. Guests will hear an overhead announcement, but are not required to participate, nor will the building be evacuated. Please plan your visit accordingly or contact us at info@nhm.org or 213.763.DINO if you have any questions or would like to reschedule your visit.

Fabricating Wilderness

Explore a new book on the history of NHM’s habitat dioramas on sale this September

Kudus diorama from NHM's Diorama Halls

For a century, the immersive dioramas at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County have amazed millions of visitors and been featured in countless movies and music videos. Yet their story has never been told—until now. 

Fabricating Wilderness Cover


Journey from the windswept glaciers of Greenland to the jungles of the Congo Basin with the scientists, adventurers, and artists determined to preserve endangered wildlife by re-creating the habitats of the world in the heart of Los Angeles. New research and surreal, never-before-seen historical images richly illustrate this behind-the-scenes exploration of some of the Museum’s most beloved exhibits.

  • Discover the origin of dioramas and the turbulent early history of L.A.’s habitat halls. 
  • Learn how gifted artists painted captivating background murals and meticulously re-created every leaf and bird. 
  • See how the dioramas have changed and grown over the last 100 years.

The habitats are far from still lifes. Artists continue to update and improve them, fabricating new scenes that inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural world.

Specimen Skins image from Fabricating Wilderness
pages 28 & 29 from the book Fabricating Wilderness
pages 92 & 93 from the book Fabricating Wilderness

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PST ART Art & Science Collide Presented by Getty

Southern California’s landmark arts event, PST ART, returns in September 2024, presenting more than 70 exhibitions from organizations across the region exploring the intersections of art and science, both past and present. PST ART is presented by Getty. For more information about PST ART: Art & Science Collide, please visit pst.art