Hollywood Film Buff Tour
Hollywood History walks in these halls. Come see original film costumes, where Mickey Mouse was made, and find real film props throughout our Museum. You might even recognize iconic sets from some of your favorite films!
Rotunda
Level 1
Walk back in time over 100 years to stand in the Rotunda, the museum’s original Beaux Arts entrance. It was featured in the 2002 Spider-Man film. You can spy Peter Parker and his classmates walk through the iconic space as they tour a science lab.
Costume Case
Level 1, Becoming Los Angeles
NHM has an extensive collection of Hollywood costumes, props, and other memorabilia. We rotate a signature costume throughout the year in our Becoming Los Angeles exhibition.
Disney Animation Table
Level 1, Becoming Los Angeles
Oh boy! Beloved Disney character Mickey Mouse came alive on this animation stand, which is handmade out of an old packing crate and secondhand Pathé camera. From humble beginnings, Walt Disney grew Mickey Mouse and his company from an obscure Hollywood startup to one of the world’s largest media conglomerates.
Map of terrain for film
Level 1, Becoming Los Angeles
Why did L.A. become a mecca for filmmakers? The abundance of perfect landscapes. Check out this map early days of Hollywood that shows how a trip just a few miles away could transport audiences to places all over the world.
Frankenstein Chains
Level 1, Natural History of Horror
These classic monster-movie artifacts on display in our Natural History of Horror are the result of one man’s uncanny foresight: Honorary Curator Earl Theisen. From 1930 to 1942, Theisen curated dozens of objects from early Hollywood, like these chains from the 1931 film Frankenstein.
Walrus
Level 2, North American Mammal Hall
Matthew Broderick parodied his famous film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in a 2012 Honda commercial during the Super Bowl. While he was faking sick, he was taking in the sights at NHM, and made friends with our diorama walrus.
Sharknado Staircase
Level 1
Our Museum starred in the third sequel to the fun finny film, Sharknado 3. While the film was set on the East Coast, our humble hallways were transformed by movie magic into a government building. A tidal wave of sharks cascaded down our staircase in one scene in the 2015 film.
