BE ADVISED: On Saturday, February 21, the Natural History Museum will be closing at 4 pm. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will host the LAFC vs. Inter Miami soccer match, with kickoff at 6:30 pm. This event will impact traffic, parking, and wayfinding in the area due to street closures. Please consider using public transportation or rideshare.

BE ADVISED: The Natural History Museum is not participating in SoCal Museums Free-for-All on Sunday, February 22.

Gems of the Americas

Take a trip through deep time — via the 1980s — and explore gems with a vintage NHM documentary

By: Tyler Hayden

Join us for a tour of Earth's history through one of NHM's own historic documentaries: 1980's Gems of the Americas. 

Gems "have been called the Rosetta stones of Earth's history", the "flowers of the mineral kingdom", and "microcosms of the universe". 

While prized for their rare brilliance, their creation reveals the inner workings of our planet's evolution, and their presence has spurred exploration, conflict, environmental degradation, and discovery across the Americas. 

With vintage 80s' style, Gems of the Americas explores every facet of their collection and study through the lens of gems and the locales in which they're found.  From plate tectonics to mining operations in the mountains of Colombia, journey into the incredible world of gems with NHM. 

Mexican crazy lace agate
Gem and Mineral Hall
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Marine Minerals Video sunset over ocean
There's Climate History at the Bottom of the Ocean
Looking at ocean sediments reveals how Earth has changed over time.
Read more