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La Brea Tar Pits

About La Brea Tar Pits

The La Brea Tar Pits constitute an active paleontological research site located in urban Los Angeles, California, United States. Hancock Park was established around a cluster of tar pits formed by natural asphalt that has continuously seeped upward from the ground for tens of thousands of years. Over centuries, these asphalt deposits trapped numerous prehistoric animals, preserving their skeletal remains. The site is home to the George C. Page Museum, dedicated to the ongoing excavation, research and public display of preserved specimens. The La Brea Tar Pits is recognized as a registered National Natural Landmark.

The museum closed on July 7, 2026 for a 2-year renovation.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Photos of La Brea Tar Pits

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  1. La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles01Los AngelesDaniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 2.5
  2. LaBreaTarPits02LaBreaTarPitsMyName (3scandal0) · Public domain
  3. LaBreaTarPits03LaBreaTarPits3scandal0 · Public domain
  4. LaBreaTarPitsExcavation04LaBreaTarPitsExcavationJohndhackensacker3d · CC BY-SA 3.0
  5. La Brea Tar Pits (laenulfean)05(laenulfean)Carsten Tolkmit · CC BY-SA 2.0
  6. La Brea woman06La Brea womanFranko Fonseca from Redondo Beach, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Nearby museums

Make a day of it. 4 more museums are within a mile of La Brea Tar Pits; the closest, George C. Page Museum, is practically next door.