Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Berlin - Wall Project

    4.5 (37 reviews)

    Berlin - Wall Project Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Berlin - Wall Project

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tanja N.

    The wall project is an installation featuring 10 sections of the original Berlin Wall. Almost 40 ft long, this is the largest stretch of Berlin Wall outside of Berlin. It was installed in 2009 to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The last 4 pieces have the original graffiti including the iconic Bimer's green bear. It is conveniently located just across the LACME, and just a short walk from La Brea Pit, so if you are visiting either one of them, this is a must stop.

    Berlin Wall Project front.
    Dee K.

    Great opportunity to see/touch 10 sections of the actual Berlin Wall. People died because of this wall, come pay your respects.

    Alexis B.

    If you're visiting the Petersen Automotive Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits, or LACMA, the Berlin Wall segments on Wilshire Blvd. are well worth stopping by to see for a minute or so. The art on the wall segments is not original (except for the last four starting at the green bear), but it's an interesting display. We stopped by for a few pictures.

    D Face.
    Sabrina B.

    This was a cool bonus when parking and walking to LACMA. There is construction close by so this was surrounded by a fair amount of fencing but still easily accessible from the sidewalk. My wife and I enjoyed looking at the murals. Quite interesting that one side is the original artwork as it stood in Berlin and the other side was given to local artists. Powerful to see pieces like this on the side of a busy Los Angeles road. As if it's just a piece of art for everyone to enjoy without the dark history it holds. Stop by. Read the plaque. Take a deep breath. Be thankful it's history and not present.

    Berlin Wall, murals in tact from Germany
    Alana M.

    This installation containing 10 pieces of the Berlin Wall can be found across the street from LACMA, where you will see a wall with murals on it. Have you ever driven down Wilshire and wondered what it was? Now, you know! This is a good sized portion of the actual Berlin Wall. It is a historic piece of history and is very interesting to view. There is nothing good about the wall except that it was taken down! Wende commissioned 4 artists to paint murals on the wall segments. To me, the striking and most eye-catching images are of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. I am not entirely sure how the other images tie in. The wall is part of the Wende Museum. There are 10 segments lined up together and then another one across the street in front of LACMA's entrance. TIP: To fully experience or view the wall, you need to walk up to it and look at both sides. Also,on a side note, just next to the wall, is what looks like a guard shack. It is a guardhouse from East Germany where a bunch of them were used to control public spaces and monitor border crossings. It is an art installation by SONYA SCHÖNBERGER, called "KEY DELIVERY". If you want to touch a part of history, come see it in person! While you are in the area, come see the Urban Lights, LACMA, La Brea Tar Pits, or the Levitated Mass... so much to see that you can make a day of it!

    The Wall along Wilshire
    Nadine C.

    Six months ago, Steve S., Alana M., Craig Y., and I went on a "Field Trip" led by Tim C. I am writing this review now to see if my photos link up with this review. .. Maybe Tim C. took a bunch of us here in May of 2015 during my very first visit to Los Angeles. I think, at that time, I was so amazed and in disbelief that a part of the Berlin Wall is actually in the USA! A symbol of Communism exists in the largest Democratic Country in the world! In his famous speech on June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan said, "...tear down this Wall." Our President won! The "Fall of the Wall" started on November 9, 1989 and ended two years later. Twenty years later, in 2009, this section of the Berlin Wall arrived in Los Angeles! This is just an awesome, free, and historic piece of art work that anyone can view 24/7. It's located right across from LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) on Wilshire Boulevard. Go check it out!

    Chel R.

    Commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall , stands this ten wall segments on the sidewalk of Wilshire Blvd right across the Urban Lights at LACMA. Growing up in the heart of LA, I dont recall knowing about the art district in Mid-Wilshire. Perhaps it didnt exist back in the day. Present day, locals and tourists flock to see these amazing art work. Always nice to see people getting theirn culture on! Metered parking available. Enjoy!

    The largest section of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany.  The 4 right panels are original paintings.
    Norm K.

    I saw an article about this in the LA TImes and decided to stop. I parked on Ogden and walked the block plus to the wall. This certainly was a treat! The largest section of the Berlin Wall that exists outside of Germany. Recently, the Wende had artists paint the back panels and they were finished the day before I saw the panels. Only the side of the wall facing West Berlin had been painted in Germany. The other side facing East Berlin was in a no mans zone and no one was allowed near the wall. The front four panels on the right are original panels paintings from its Berlin time including the green bear. The four panels to the left facing Wilshire were painted in recent years. If you're at LACMA, take the time to walk across the street and see the panels up close. It really is a part of history from an awful era. Extraordinary thing to see!

    Chris C.

    "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana If you're visiting LACMA, the Petersen, or the La Brea Tar Pits be sure to make a point of checking out the Wall Project. It's almost immediately across the street from LACMA's Urban Light installation. The Wall Project consists of 10 sections of the original Berlin Wall, 6 of which have been painted by artists and 4 of which contain original graffiti from Cold War-era Berlin. This really is the best way to see the wall outside of going to Berlin. You can get up close and personal with the wall and even touch it. When I was there, there were even little kits running on/along the base of the back of the wall. The experience can be both chilling and uplifting and it's well worth a slight detour.

    Travis W.

    Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Urban Lights and LACMA is a piece of art/history paying tribute to the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Not sure if this is the largest display of it's kind, but it's definitely the largest piece of the wall I've seen or touched. It is as chilling as it is amazing to see something that divided so many for so long now stand beautifully erected displaying various murals and graffiti style art works with a goal of bringing people together.

    Awesome
    Julie D.

    Had my friend and I not crossed the street after visiting the Urban Light exhibit at LACMA we would have never known about this. So glad we did because this was such an interesting find. Great artwork and just so amazing to even be able to see/feel the Berlin Wall. The best part is it's free. You can't beat that

    Will L.

    Definitely a must in LA!! I remember being a kid and watching on the news as this wall was being taken by joyous faces.

    Down in Berlin 11/9/89, up in LA 11/8/09
    Stephanie P.

    PROOF, EXPECTATIONS ARE A SET UP FOR A LET DOWN! BACKGROUND: The largest stretch of the original Berlin Wall in the world outside of Berlin resides in the permanent collection of the Wende Museum. Ten of these segments, currently displayed at 5900 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, were installed as part of the Wende's Wall Project, which commemorated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2009. As part of the project, the Museum commissioned four artists to paint on five of these wall segments, including French-born, Berlin-based artist Thierry Noir, who was one of the first to paint the Berlin Wall in 1984, L.A.-based muralist Kent Twitchell and Farrah Karapetian and Marie Astrid González, two emerging Los Angeles Artists. STATS: Metered parking Paid parking lot Free event EXPERIENCE: Esther K. one of my first engaging Yelp buds, and I tried for months to try to meet up, but calendar conflicts caused us to take over eight months to finally sych up and meet up. Our first meeting was a stop was a cultural adventure. I saw that she had bookmarked this place and it just so happened just a few days prior, I got a cultural/museum itch. One thing led to another and we found ourselves actually able to sync our calendars. Prior to us meeting up, I scratched a little of my museum itch, visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Review previously posted), and took a peek at the wall. The wall sits right in front of a building directly across from LACMoA and if it weren't for all the roach coaches blocking the view, passersby could see it from the street. There really isn't much to it, historically; it is really more of mural of historical figures, including Captain America. What Captain America has to do with the Berlin Wall, I'm not sure. I know expectations are just a set up for a letdown, thus it is very rare I expect anything. However, for some reason, I did have highish expectations about this wall, even after reading Yelp reviews. I was expecting to see more evidence of what the wall went through while residing in Berlin, but no, it became an artist canvas and was painted over with paints of JFK, MLK, and some other oddities. The only evidence that remains are some chips and wholes from objects that I am unable to identify. I reported back to Esther my findings and when we met up at the wall, she too was shocked at what the wall had become. Needless to say, we were there for about 5 minutes, just long enough to take pics and move onto our next cultural/museum adventure. Granted the wall is a piece of history, the artists should have, in my opinion, left it alone. So, if you are expecting to see a wall of what it was like to be trapped behind it, mute your expectations, you will not get it here. The upside, it's fantastic that the wall is no longer a barrier and great that we have the largest section right here in LA. I wouldn't make a special trip to the west side to see it, but I would do what I did, take care of other business, such as check out LACMoA or meet up with a friend, check out, and head to another event of some sort.

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tanja N.
    12
    391
    4016

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 30
    Thanks 0
    Love this 27
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 28
    Thanks 0
    Love this 30
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Julie D.
    281
    1014
    6282

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 29
    Thanks 0
    Love this 27
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 25
    Thanks 0
    Love this 26
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ana V.
    41
    4
    1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara F.
    584
    198
    141

    10 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maggie K.
    777
    415
    35

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 23
    Thanks 0
    Love this 24
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C M.
    50
    77
    48

    9 years ago

    Stopped here prior to returning home. It was amazing. A piece of history available for all to see

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Aimee N.
    383
    88
    20

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Charley C.
    1107
    3096
    4318

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yi Z.
    851
    3266
    1616

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Berlin - Wall Project

    Review Highlights - Berlin - Wall Project

    “It's located right across from LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) on Wilshire Boulevard.”

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Museums 12,513 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County - The Rotunda at NHM

    Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
    5.1 mi•Exposition Park
    Free WiFi
    Wheelchair accessible

    In a world increasingly dominated by sedentary virtual activities, the Los Angeles Natural History…read moreMuseum is the antidote to many of our problems, issues, and ailments. What I mean is, on about 200 acres in the heart of the city is a storied and exquisite tribute to earth's almost infinite wonders and the role of millions of species in making this planet a paradise in a somewhat sterile universe. A visit to the website as well as an in-person trip and tour of the grounds and the vaulted spaces inside can restore the soul. It does that for me each time I go. I have hundreds of photos taken during these visits, but I have selected a few from my Nikon full frame to illustrate the marvel and treasure that this museum represents. Among the best and most curated and cared for archives in the world, the Natural History Museum seeks to inspire and educate visitors, patrons, old and young alike, by showcasing the earth's cultural and natural beauty. These are troubling times all over the globe. This institution can revive our faith in civilization and our terrestrial mother in just a few brief hours. It is not be be missed.

    We had a pretty fun experience at the Natural History Museum with our 3 year old toddlers! We only…read morewent through the lower ground and first floor because we didn't think the second floor would be as appealing for them. Overall, it was a fun experience and a nice place to explore with little ones. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something different to do with young kids. I would avoid the dinosaur show at all cost. It was not worth it not one bit! I also don't think a membership is worth it. This was kind of like a one year kind of experience in my opinion.

    Photos
    Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County - Elephants roam the African Mammal Hall

    Elephants roam the African Mammal Hall

    Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County - Wonder at the Gem and Mineral Hall

    Wonder at the Gem and Mineral Hall

    Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County - Afternoon in the Edible Garden

    See all

    Afternoon in the Edible Garden

    World of Illusions

    World of Illusions

    3.9(1k reviews)
    3.0 mi•Hollywood

    Needed a last minute outing to keep the kids busy so naturally, I googled my options. This…read morelocation was pretty convenient so off we went. Tickets were pretty easy to purchase online. I thought it was a timed entry but it is not...or it wasn't when we went. I followed the parking sign on the wall which led me to a lot just a little north of the museum. It was $20 to park there. Had I had more time to plan, I may have parked somewhere else as I felt that was a bit steep. I'm assuming metered parking would be hard to find in that location as it is in the heart of Hollywood. I thought it would be similar to the Museum of Illusions in New York, but rather than a museum feel, this was purely just photo ops. You can rent tripods at the front for $10. They also provide free lockers for your bags and stuff- which I would highly recommend. I didn't take up the offer in the beginning but soon realized that was a better option. I would also like to highly recommend and thank Tim! He showed us the ropes of how to take photos and he took some photos for us. He was friendly, professional and patient with my two young kids. He definitely knows his way around an iPhone camera and showed me some tricks I didn't even know. Tim's photos came out a lot better than mine as you need to find the perfect angle for the pictures to have that illusion effect. The tickets I purchased online also allowed us to go to the giant house next door and the upside down house. Tim came to the rescue again and took some amazing photos for us in the upside down house. It was a fun experience for all of us and I would definitely recommend visiting this location. If you see Tim, ask him for some pointers! Thank you, Tim!

    This was just a fun little stop we made while walking Hollywood Blvd…read more The museum of illusions tickets cost $35, and a tripod rental is $10. They also offer many other packages. A good time was had by all!

    Photos
    World of Illusions
    World of Illusions
    World of Illusions

    See all

    Los Angeles County Museum of Art - A performance inside the gallery.

    Los Angeles County Museum of Art

    4.2(2.1k reviews)
    0.1 mi•Mid-Wilshire

    Jazz at LACMA is a weekly summer must!…read more There's nothing like enjoying the cool evening air with smooth jazz at LACMA. Every Friday from May through September, live jazz fills the Smidt Welcome Plaza, with a new performer each week (check the website for upcoming acts and food truck/vendor lineups). We felt lucky to visit when Betty "Cool Miss B" Brown received the L.A. Jazz Treasure Award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. Performances start at 6pm, but I highly recommend arriving at least an hour early, Bring your own food and drinks for a perfect picnic. The earlier you get there, the better chance of snagging a seat in the plaza; otherwise, there's plenty of lawn space and additional tables nearby. Food trucks and vendors are set up just behind the plaza. It was so much fun to see everyone relaxing, dancing, and simply enjoying the music. My son and I were vibing the whole time. Seeing him feel the music was a special memory that took me back to when I first discovered jazz. Definitely core memories unlocked. We can't wait for next week's event! (Just be aware parking is $24, but otherwise, we loved every moment of Jazz at LACMA.)

    This is a limited review...first visit to LACMA since the opening of Zumthor's building, 5 months…read moreafter opening. We were there for the Fashioning Chinese Women exhibit @ BCAM, so did not enter the Geffen galleries. But we did want to get a drink at Erewhon on this 100+ degree day, visit the store, and also use the restrooms, all on the ground floor. I will defer a more thoughtful judgement on the merits of Zumthor's design, but it appears to me that, sadly, someone or possibly more than someone has ignored the Miesian dictum "God is in the details." There are several specific shortcomings in the new LACMA design and resulting experience, in no particular order: 1. Inadequate wayfinding signage and legible cues. Firstly, the site orientation map handed out at the ticket booth looks like it was drawn by an 8-year old (my apologies to 8-year olds) and is lacking in scale and specificity to be able to find the most direct route to ground floor destinations. There is not enough directional signage, and what there is, is too subtle to be obvious and thus useful. Unlike the pre-Zumthor LACMA, there are several staff stationed around the building to help direct people (not very helpfully), as well as freestanding signs, that are clearly afterthoughts. 2. While the plazas facing Wilshire are better than I expected, the other outdoor spaces are utterly bleak and soulless. They need to hurry up and figure out how to humanize those spaces. 3. Someone was not paying attention to workmanship in the restroom construction. Poorly masked painting, peeling paint at the restroom sink, toilet grab bars coming off the walls, and wobbly coat hook on the door, only 5 months after opening do not bode well for longevity. Was someone cutting corners for budget and or schedule? I can foresee excessive maintenance costs to keep things in a condition that befits such an important civic institution. Does this portend a higher rate of membership fee increases to fund necessary upkeep? Who is accountable to the membership and the taxpayers for such lack of oversight?

    Photos
    Los Angeles County Museum of Art - My kiddos enjoying the day at LACMA

    My kiddos enjoying the day at LACMA

    Los Angeles County Museum of Art - LACMA 5/17/26

    LACMA 5/17/26

    Los Angeles County Museum of Art - Interior of the entire museum bookstore.

    See all

    Interior of the entire museum bookstore.

    Bubble World - Went and had a glorious time each room has a theme. It was fun for all ages.

    Bubble World

    3.1(117 reviews)
    15.1 mi

    we love going to these little pop-up stuff that we see on social media or on Google and everything…read moreand this time we went to bubble world in Montebello. It wasn't that far of a drive for us and parking. There was a lot of parking and it was free and I believe you had to purchase your times to go and you wait in line and then you also have to sign like a waiver or something We love seeing all these high technology and everything. It was so cool so much opportunities for photos and a lot of things to do with your kids and they seem super entertained. I think we went in and it took probably a good hour or so to see everything and do everything so if you were ever in the area, then totally check it out just kidding. The exhibit was closed now LOL

    Was not impressed. At all…read more Not worth the price and people are gross. The workers do not do their job either. Of course, the place is already quite dirty as it is, especially since it's closing soon. Some of the rooms were cool. I like the balloon room and the lights, but some people should really read the rules. First off, this family blocked the stairway to get in. And one of the family members was this short, big guy who was just running in the balloon room in circles and popping all the balloons and kicking them around up over the walls. Now that's fine, but then me and boyfriend tried to make our way in and another couple too, were there. He continued to kick up a bunch of balloons, while me and another person was trying to take pictures. He even accidentally knocked down his daughter in the process. He was extremely obnoxious and even joked about it with his family members, who just laughed and took videos. Now most of the interactive stuff was bad. It was gross for the most part due to all the germs, dirt, and hair. The balls and balloons all have random dirty smears of brown and orange on them. The ball pit was very dirty. I assume they're not planning on sanitizing any time soon due to the exhibit closing down. Anyways, we go into the light room and the worker says stay in the path and don't the lights. After two minutes, all of a sudden these three kids run in and start going into the lights and grabbing them, she stares and doesn't say a thing to them. These kids are super rowdy so I say something, and then she says oh, yeah don't do that. Pretty useless in my opinion. Most of this stuff is geared towards kids, but my bar was already super low. Do not spend your money here. Go somewhere else.

    Photos
    Bubble World - This is the VR swing. $5 extra for this but I thought it was worth it.

    This is the VR swing. $5 extra for this but I thought it was worth it.

    Bubble World - Photo app get your photos taken next to the flowers

    Photo app get your photos taken next to the flowers

    Bubble World - Come to the bubble world experience

    See all

    Come to the bubble world experience

    The Bradbury Building - Hours.

    The Bradbury Building

    4.4(318 reviews)
    6.4 mi•Downtown

    Fun stop when visiting Grand Central Market. So many movies have filmed here -- Blade Runner and…read moreLethal Weapon just to name a couple. It's refreshing to see this kind of architecture in Los Angeles among endless mini malls. You can tell real pride went into the design and craftsmanship. A true historic landmark and worth taking a few minutes to appreciate while you're there.

    What can you say about the Bradbury Building except that it is not what it once was. Currently, you…read morecan walk in there pretty much seven days a week and see the skeletal remains of what was once a fantastic piece of DTLA architecture. Now, the upstairs offices are generally blocked off and all that is left is the what used to be. Certainly, the Bradbury Building came to fame during the 1982 movie, Blade Runner where it was used as one of their primary sets. This was long before it was renovated showing off it's truly unique interior architecture. Very beautiful! For a lot of years, this building was pretty much closed to the public except for those who used it as a filming location. Being involved in the film industry for a lot of years, I personally have been in this building a number of times throughout its evolution. More recently, somebody got the great idea to renovate it. I guess that's a good thing? But, in its current state, all that you see is a whole lot of tourists coming in there, even tour guides, taking people in there telling them all kinds of lies about the history of the building. They weren't there, so they don't know! Yet, they speak about it. Now, it's a modernized office structure. Yes, much of the interior metallurgy is still there -- reminiscent of the time gone past. But much the vibe of the building is long gone. That's sad, I think. So, if you're in DTLA, and you want to look back to the past, the Bradbury Building is a interesting place to do that. It's right across the street from Grand Central Market, so it's impossible to miss. You can pretty much go in there seven days a week, and though you'll be limited to staying on the first floor, you can take a look and see what once was. I would say it's definitely worth the expedition.

    Photos
    The Bradbury Building - Built in 1893, the Bradbury is the oldest commercial building in downtown

    Built in 1893, the Bradbury is the oldest commercial building in downtown

    The Bradbury Building - You got mail.

    You got mail.

    The Bradbury Building

    See all

    The Museum of Contemporary Art - Admission.

    The Museum of Contemporary Art

    4.0(490 reviews)
    6.2 mi•Downtown
    •$

    I went to MOCA a couple weeks ago for the first time in almost twenty years. I'd only been once or…read moretwice before, in my student days, when the museum would host free events with live music and late entry into the galleries. I remember going with my cool friend June K. and seeing a Rauschenberg, thinking, "What is that?" This only came back to me on my more recent visit, to catch the end of an exhibit with my (cool for a 41-year-old) friend Sergio P. before lunch at Grand Central Market. It was called "The Expanding Field: MOCA's Collection from the 1940s to 1970s," and I randomly read about it in a newsletter the night before we went. I always hear about stuff at the Broad and LACMA, but I almost missed this MOCA exhibit completely. I guess it's a smaller museum, with a lower marketing budget. I'm really glad we caught it, because the exhibit was fantastic, an impressive showcase of collection highlights from the mid-20th century. First of all, there were eight Rothkos, all on view in one room alongside a couple of Giacomettis. There were works by Miró and Mondrian, Jackson Pollock and Jasper Johns, a fantastic Warhol painting of a telephone. Multiple Rauschenbergs, which I appreciated more this time around. I also loved pieces by Joan Brown, Anne Truitt, and Nicolas de Staël, among many others. MOCA isn't big, and outside of this exhibit, the other gallery space seemed to be closed, possibly in preparation for another show. It took us less than half an hour, at a leisurely pace, to take in the exhibit. We stopped by the store after, which was great, full of art books and fun contemporary museum shop goodies. This was a wonderful way to spend an hour on a random Wednesday, and it cost nothing except for parking (the museum doesn't have its own lot, and I paid over $20 to park across the street at the Music Center; next time, transit). MOCA offers free admission, a bountiful gift to art enthusiasts in L.A. Reservations are recommended, but easy to get without much planning. Now that MOCA is back on my radar, I expect to go again soon, or at least in the next few years. It's a stellar museum with an interesting collection, worthy of regular visits.

    What a gem. I can't believe this museum is free…read more Located in Downtown Los Angeles, it's easy to pair with other nearby attractions, making it a great stop if you're spending the day exploring the area. The exhibits were fantastic. MOCA focuses on contemporary art, so you'll find everything from bold abstract paintings and large-scale installations to sculptures, video art, and thought-provoking mixed-media pieces. I love that contemporary art invites you to interpret it for yourself. Some works made me stop and think, while others were simply fun to experience. It was a nice balance of playful, emotional, and thought-provoking. The museum itself is quiet and easy to explore. It never felt crowded, so I could actually spend time with the artwork instead of feeling rushed from room to room. I also really enjoyed the gift shop. They had a fantastic selection of art books and exhibition catalogs that were honestly hard to resist. They also carried plenty of fun collectibles, including lots of reasonably priced Smiskis, which made me smile. Overall, this is an amazing free museum and an easy recommendation if you're in Downtown LA. Whether you're already into contemporary art or just curious to try something different, it's well worth stopping by.

    Photos
    The Museum of Contemporary Art - Tall Figure by Alberto Giacometti.

    Tall Figure by Alberto Giacometti.

    The Museum of Contemporary Art - Welcome to MOCA.

    Welcome to MOCA.

    The Museum of Contemporary Art - MOCA Donors with their humbling transformative donations. :D #ILOVEART

    See all

    MOCA Donors with their humbling transformative donations. :D #ILOVEART

    California Science Center - Rocket Lab Electron Rocket  03-01-2025

    California Science Center

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    5.3 mi•Exposition Park

    The new endeavor exhibition is amazing. We went up the escalator and were taken into a room for an…read moreinitial screening... the effects were a surprise and everyone applauded. The shuttle is huge! I almost couldn't walk passed it for the sheer terror that it could fall over Can you believe they built the building around it!! There's also a slide... Go see it.

    Wonderful! And it's FREE! Honestly, there is so much to do here that I don't understand how they…read moremanage to offer all of this without an admission fee. There are tons of interactive exhibits, so this isn't one of those museums where you just walk around reading plaques. You can actually touch things, experiment, play, and learn as you go. Even before you enter, there's an outdoor truck you can lift using a rope and a top-down handle that lets you test torque and mechanical advantage. It's such a simple way to demonstrate the physics behind lifting something that heavy, and obviously I had to try it. One of my favorite parts was the sea life area. They have an interactive exhibit where you can actually touch some of the animals, and there was a surprising diversity of species. I also loved that they have waves running through the habitats. You can tell they put real thought into the animals' wellbeing too. There are signs reminding visitors to let the animals rest, which I really appreciated. There's also a really interesting section about California's different environments and ecosystems, plus a whole wildfire section on the top floor. Lots of focus on biodiversity, with smaller interactive tables throughout where you can learn by actually doing things. The staff were incredibly kind and friendly too, which made the whole experience even better. The location is beautiful. The bottom floor has a cafeteria where you can eat your packed lunch, and you're right next to the Rose Garden. There's also a parking lot nearby, so it's pretty convenient. Honestly, this is such a fun museum whether you're bringing kids or you're just a giant child like me who wants to test the physics of lifting a truck. FREE, interactive, educational, beautiful, and genuinely fun. Absolutely a must-see in LA.

    Photos
    California Science Center - Mars Viking Lander  03-01-2025

    Mars Viking Lander 03-01-2025

    California Science Center - Cities of the Future 3D and Leonardo Da Vinci exhibitions tickets!

    Cities of the Future 3D and Leonardo Da Vinci exhibitions tickets!

    California Science Center - Leonardo Da Vinci Functional Art

    See all

    Leonardo Da Vinci Functional Art

    Berlin - Wall Project - museums - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...