What a surprise. A tired collection of a few vehicles scattered over two windowless floors. Worn diorama displays that lack the most basic information about the nature of the vehicles on display, their motors, their manufacturers. The kicker was to learn that the real collection is in the basement of the building and can only be accessed by paying a...
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Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles
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Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
(Central L.A)
323-930-2277
Website
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As featured in 3 days in Los Angeles
93 visitor photos
Ranked #25 of 334 attractions in Los Angeles
Type: Speciality Museums, History Museums, Museums
Fee: Yes
Recommended length of visit: 1-2 hours
Owner description:
The Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration and presentation of the automobile and its impact on American life and culture using...
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Owner description:
The Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration and presentation of the automobile and its impact on American life and culture using Los Angeles as the prime example. Encompassing more than 300,000 square feet, its exhibits and lifelike dioramas feature more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles. Covering four floors, the facility features permanent exhibits on the first floor that trace the history of the automobile. Visitors are invited to walk through, not by, exhibits and dioramas and experience settings of early Los Angeles where the world’s first shopping district was designed. The second floor presents five rotating galleries with state-of-the-art displays of race cars, classic cars, vintage motorcycles, concept cars, celebrity and movie cars, and auto design and technology. The May Family Discovery Center is located on the third floor. Designed to spark interest in science by way of the automobile, the 6,500 square-foot, interactive "hands-on" learning center teaches children basic scientific principles by explaining the fundamental functions of a car. A spectacular all-glass penthouse conference center, Founder’s Lounge and kitchen, comprise the fourth floor, which is available for special events and functions. The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, governed by a Board of Directors.
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1 review
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Brisbane, Australia
Senior Reviewer
Took my 5yo son here to kill a few hours. I love cars and enjoyed reading some of the history and my son loved the kids section on the third floor. Not a day trip but you can spend a good few hours in here. There is a good gift shop and a Johnny Rockets attached to it as well.
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See 4 more reviews by MissMinelli for Los Angeles
Atlanta, Georgia
Contributor
I'm not even into cars, and I LOVED THIS PLACE! You will see some incredibly interesting vehicles ... You won't believe your eyes! YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME AT THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM! Children ... adults ... everyone will love it.
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Torrance
Senior Contributor
Anyone who has any interest in cars at all should make this a destination. There is something here for everyone automobile-wise. There are also special exhibits that change throughout the year.Also, from time-to-time car clubs will stage special shows on the top of the parking structure. I recently entered my car in one for a memorial to Carroll Shelby. Great...
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See 4 more reviews by mike w for Los Angeles
Yorba Linda, California
Reviewer
They have a wonderful selection of classic and obscure automobiles. Plus a fun NASCAR room and a million dollar Bulgari.
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Manchester, UK
Senior Contributor
A little overpriced in my opinion. Managed to get through thr musuem in less than an hour. Interesting collection of mainly American cars. Accessible from Downtown via 720 Metro rapid bus.
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Vancouver
Senior Contributor
My husband really wanted to go to the Peterson Museum during our recent trip to L.A. although I'm not a car enthusiast as he is, I was very very pleasantly surprised with this experience. The amount of detail and thought that went into these exhibits is still very impressive to me. They must have had the great people that work...
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See 6 more reviews by pfed for Los Angeles
Kelowna, Canada
Top Contributor
We were dropped on S Orange Grove Ave, right behind the Museum, where there is street, and a small lot for parking. We had lunch at Johnny Rockets and received a discount at the Museum ticket office. Nice start. We then spent that right away on a "tour" of The Vault. If you are going to go to the museum,...
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See 3 more reviews by Britishcanadianeh for Los Angeles
SF Bay Area
Top Contributor
If you like cars you'll love this somewhat small but very impressive museum. The first floor chronicles the history of the automobile and its impact on SCal. Second floor has rotating exhibits; while we visited this time there was a history of fins on cars, famous movie cars, & an exhibit of hot rods. Third floor contains a small childrens'...
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See 3 more reviews by CAHappy for Los Angeles
stevenage
Senior Reviewer
Some unusual and rare cars kept in a clean but sterile building with no atmosphere.Very good if this is your thing but only good for half a day general interest.Luckily there was an outdoor Corvette show on the day I was there which was great but packing up by 1300 hrs.Plenty of food outside on "gravy wagons" but cafe was...
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