Spring has officially sprung, and it's time to get out of the house, away from your computer, and experience one of the many cultural institutions that grace Southern California. Even better: if you go on So Cal Free-For-All Day, Saturday, March 23, you'll pay nothing and learn something. The no-cost admuseums represent art, cultural heritage, film, natural history, and science.
Think of all there is to explore, with museums from the Inland Empire to Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. View the complete list of museums below and plan your visits now. This offer is for general museum admission only and does not apply to specially ticketed exhibitions. Each museum charges regular parking fees. For hours, directions, and other visitor information, consult individual museum websites.
Clockwise, from upper left: LACMA, JANM, the Skirball, and the Grammy Museum.
Museums are a Great Source for Family History Researchers
Museums are an often overlooked source for family history research. Some house genealogical archives, while regional museums exhibit a place's history and culture, including artifacts, photos, and items representing the region and its inhabitants. Ethnic and religious museums preserve the history and culture of regional ethnic or religious groups. Others are focused on industries, lifestyles, organizations, and professions, which will give you a better idea of how your ancestors lived or what they might have experienced.
The museums participating in the 2024 Free-For-All include:
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: Los Angeles. Advanced reservations are encouraged. Visit academymuseum.org to make a reservation.
American Museum of Ceramic Art: Pomona. Advanced reservations are required. Visit amoca.org to make a reservation.
Armory Center for the Arts: Pasadena.
Autry Museum of the American West: Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Advanced reservations are required. Visit theautry.org to make a reservation.
Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College: Claremont.
Bowers Museum: Santa Ana.
The Broad: Downtown Los Angeles. Advanced reservations are encouraged.
California Botanic Garden: Claremont.
California Science Center: Los Angeles.
Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum: Cal State University, Long Beach.
Catalina Museum for Art & History: Avalon, Catalina Island.
Cayton Children’s Museum: Santa Monica. Advanced reservations are required. Visit caytonmuseum.org to make a reservation.
Columbia Memorial Space Center: Downey.
Craft Contemporary: Los Angeles.
Forest Lawn Museum: Glendale
Fowler Museum at UCLA: Los Angeles
The Getty Center: Los Angeles. Admission is free, though temporarily, a timed-entry reservation is required. Visit getty.edu to make a reservation.
The Getty Villa: Malibu. Timed tickets are required. Visit getty.edu to make a reservation.
GRAMMY Museum: Downtown Los Angeles.
Hammer Museum: Los Angeles.
Holocaust Museum LA: Los Angeles. Reservations are required. Visit holocaustmuseumla.org to reserve tickets.
Institute of Contemporary Art: Los Angeles.
The International Printing Museum: Carson.
Japanese American National Museum: Los Angeles. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. Visit janm.org to make a reservation.
Laguna Art Museum: Laguna Beach.
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum: Los Angeles. Advance tickets are required. Visit tarpits.org to make a reservation.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)(Advance tickets are required. Visit lacma.org to make a reservation)
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)(Advance tickets are recommended. Visit moca.org to make a reservation)
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History(Advanced reservations encouraged. Visit sbnature.org Sea Center not included)
Skirball Cultural Center(Advance tickets strongly recommended. Visit skirball.org to make a reservation)
**The Museum of Tolerance will only participate on Sunday, March 24.”