Why did so many dire wolves get stuck in tar pits? Why did they disappear? Better yet, are they 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠? Through vintage animations and behind-the-scenes interviews, uncover new discoveries about these iconic Pleistocene predators and the role humans played in this Ice Age drama.
youtu.be/Cc8tCgSLa8Y
I’m glad I moved to LA in time to see it before it was renovated. And hopefully be around to see it after. It is a very cool museum
Don't miss an evening full of music sets, offerings from local environmental orgs, and more—tickets on sale now: go.nhm.org/climate-danc...
Hearts and stars on a rich warm background with text "April 25. 6PM / Climate Dance Party AT LA BREA TAR PITS".
A portrait of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
Visitors dance at a museum after-hours event.
In two weeks, join us as we celebrate the paperback release of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures” with a special after-hours event at the #TarPits! go.nhm.org/climate-danc...
Now through July 6, we invite you to experience the #TarPits inside and outside once more and make some incredible memories before the makeover! tarpits.org
Whether you haven't visited in years or you're a regular, come soak in everything that makes this place so special, from towering mammoths to tiny microfossils and some of the most remarkable Ice Age discoveries on Earth.
A museum patron takes a photo of a model of Homotherium serum at La Brea Tar Pits with text, "Sink your teeth into a new era! / La Brea Tar Pits Museum closes for renovations July 7. / Get Tickets", with the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum logo.
🐾 Sink your teeth into a new era!
For nearly 50 years, La Brea Tar Pits has been one of L.A.’s most beloved treasures, and it's about to become something even 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 extraordinary—thread.
🐪 Every day is hump day for 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘶𝘴.
Sometimes known as "yesterday's camel," this extinct species was thought to be closely related to the living llamas from South America—but recent DNA evidence suggests that it is probably ancestral to Old World camels: go.nhm.org/ancient-camel
Wonder what it's like to go behind the scenes at La Brea #TarPits? Watch as Kid Scientist Dee gives you a sneak peek of our Insider Tour!
See all available dates and book your tour today: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-tour
Text "CLIMATE DANCE PARTY / APRIL 25, 6PM @ LA BREA TAR PITS / HOSTED BY AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON" with logos for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum beside imagery of the paperback edition of "What If We Get It Right"?
🌎 Saturday, April 25, join us to celebrate the paperback release of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures” at a special after-hours event at the #TarPits!
Tickets and full event details: go.nhm.org/climate-danc...
🌱❄️ Dig into the past (literally).
Learn how to plant your own Ice Age Garden and help preserve 60,000 years of biodiversity, no time machine required: go.nhm.org/PlantingIceAge
Artwork for STEAM Family Day featuring a variety of colorful STEAM-related items and specimens.
Visitors at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum enjoying STEAM activities.
Dr. Christine Wilkinson (Assistant Curator, Community Science), Juliana Soto-Patiño (Collections Manager, Ornithology), and Kriss Leftwich (Collections Manager, Mineral Sciences).
We’re just days away from STEAM Family Day at the #TarPits!
Enjoy themed activities, meet STEM pros, visit vendors, and more, including a discussion with #NHMLAC speakers Dr. Christine Wilkinson, Juliana Soto-Patiño, and Kriss Leftwich.
Free with Museum Admission: go.nhm.org/steam-day-2026
Students are all smiles reviewing data at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
🔬 Final weeks! Are you an undergraduate or graduate student interested in studying the #NHMLAC Collections? If you’re currently enrolled in an accredited degree-granting program, apply for our Student Collections Study Awards now through April 1—details: go.nhm.org/study-award
Shell of a Mexican rams-horn snail found at the La Brea Tar Pits.
Millipedes found at the La Brea Tar Pits.
🐚 Did you know? Many invertebrate fossils—including more than 20,000 mollusk specimens and over 100,000 arthropods—have been recovered from the #TarPits. These findings, when fully studied, offer information about environmental conditions in the late Pleistocene: go.nhm.org/lbtp-inverte...
Colorful artwork featuring elements of STEAM education with text, "STEAM Family Day".
Saturday, March 21, join us for STEAM Family Day at the #TarPits! Participate in STEAM activities, meet STEM professionals, plus discussions, live music, vendors, and more!
Free with Museum Admission: go.nhm.org/steam-day-2026
Volunteer processing microfossils at the La Brea Tar Pits.
Lizard osteoderm (above) and a Lizard jaw (below).
🤏✨ Small but spectacular!
Fossils of reptiles, amphibians, and fishes aren't easily detected at the #TarPits because they're discovered as microfossils measuring between 1-4 mm in size. Smaller vertebrae recovered on-site is through processing matrix from Pit 91 and Project 23.
A La Brea Tar Pits visitor sorts through real fossils and matrix on-site, donning protective gloves.
Your exclusive backstage pass to the Ice Age is 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦! Go behind the scenes with scientists, sort real fossils, and explore bubbling tar pits up close with newly added #TarPits Insider Tour dates through May: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-tour
A coyote fossil mount in front of an Ice Age era mural previously on view at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum.
Educators! Saturday, March 7, join us for a workshop focused on climate change conversations. In this workshop, hear from Brayden Meredith (Senior Manager, Interpretive Training) about teaching communication centered around the topic of climate.
Space is limited—RSVP: go.nhm.org/educator-wor...
🦷 Fierce, fast, and iconic—meet the California saber-tooth.
𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 had blade-like teeth and powerful forelimbs that were built for taking down large prey. Learn more about the iconic Ice Age predator at TARPITS.org
Discover Ice Age L.A., on us. We're excited to participate in the SoCal Museums Free-for-All Day Sunday, February 22!
📍 5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Will we see you on #FreeMuseumDay? Advance tickets are required for the #TarPits Museum—save your spot today: go.nhm.org/free-for-all...
The Last California Wolf was killed more than a hundred years ago, and now, they’re back.
Explore their history and future with “Wolves vs. California,” a documentary from #NHMLA in collaboration with National Geographic.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArKy...
Ted Rechlin of Rextooth Studios.
Dr. Zachary Morris, Dinosaur Institute Postdoctoral Fellow. Cullen Townsend, Scientific Artist, Paleo-artist.
Sean Campbell, La Brea Tar Pits Senior Fossil Preparator. Tony Turner, NHMLAC Museum Educator.
🦖🦣 Next week, join award-winning Graphic Novelist, Animator, Filmmaker, and Science Communicator Ted Rechlin as he goes head-to-head with #NHMLAC experts to crown the toughest dino and Ice Age era champions!
Don’t miss “Prehistoric Fight Nights” February 20 and 21: go.nhm.org/prehistoric-...
A portion of the Pit 81 block sliced through, showing numerous fossils, as it might appear if the asphalt matrix were clear.
The Pit 81 block on display at the La Brea Tar Pits.
A photo from the 1914 pit 81 excavation where excavators took a solid block out, boxed it in place, and moved it on a mule-drawn cart.
⛏️ This block of bones was excavated back in 1914 from one of the smallest pits at the #TarPits, Pit 81, and contains numerous fossil bones and shows the amazing density of specimens found in the excavations.
Explore more amazing discoveries at TARPITS.org!
"Prehistoric Fight Nights" logo lock up featuring T. rex, Spinosaurus, short-faced bear, and saber-toothed cat illustrations alongside the NHMLA and Rextooth Studios logos and text, "FEB 20: Battle of the Dinosaurs / FEB 21: Ice Age Brawl".
🦖🦣 Who will reign supreme?! February 20 and 21, join us alongside Rextooth Studios’ Ted Rechlin for an epic battle to crown the toughest champions of the dino and Ice Age eras with “Prehistoric Fight Nights” at the NHM Commons Theater: go.nhm.org/prehistoric-...
Pygmy Mammoth on display at La Brea Tar Pits.
Lower jaw bone of a pygmy mammoth.
The pygmy mammoth was a separate species from the wooly or Columbian mammoth that adapted to island life. 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 was the size of a large horse, which was an advantage to their diet and navigation compared to their mainland cousins.
View the pygmy mammoth at La Brea #TarPits!
Dragonflies at Rancho LaBrea.
A Striped Tadpole Snail and Ubiquitous Pea Clam
🪲 About 100 species of insects have been identified from recovered #TarPits fossils. Most of these, particularly bugs and beetles, were aquatic, as a thin layer of water over the asphalt would attract such insects. They would then get stuck in the asphalt while feeding or laying eggs.
