La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, Paleontological research museum in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, United States.
La Brea Tar Pits is a natural history museum in Los Angeles featuring active tar deposits scattered across the grounds. The location preserves remains of animals from the Pleistocene Era that became trapped in the asphalt over thousands of years.
Systematic excavation began in 1913 and uncovered thousands of bones from extinct animals including saber-toothed cats and dire wolves. These findings shaped scientific understanding of ancient life in Southern California.
Native Chumash and Tongva peoples gathered tar from the ground to seal their boats and tools for generations. This practice shows how the site was woven into daily survival long before modern times.
The museum is easily accessible by public transit and offers parking on-site. Visitors can explore the tar pits outdoors at no cost, while indoor galleries and the fossil lab require separate admission.
Paleontologists continue extracting new fossils from the site, including discoveries from 2006 that revealed thousands of previously unknown specimens. This ongoing work means the location functions as an active research center, not just a historical display.
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