The Petersen Automotive Museum is a massive museum dedicated to showcasing the history of cars by offering educational programmes and numerous vehicles on display. Car lovers will see wonders around every corner, as classic cars are on prominent display throughout the museum.
You'll find fun for everyone here, as many of the cars on display are recognisable from being featured in films and television shows. It typically takes about an hour or 2 to get through the entire museum, but you can spend even longer if you participate in their educational programmes.
Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles - one of the highlights of 11 Best Museums in Los Angeles (Read all about Los Angeles here)
Petersen Automotive Museum highlights
Amongst this museum's collection, you'll find more than 100 vehicles on display throughout 25 distinct galleries. Of course, the museum has a far larger collection, but the rest are kept safe and secure in a basement-level vault.
You'll find several cars in the collection that are instantly recognisable, such as the NASCAR Herbie that was used in the production of "Herbie: Fully Loaded." Additionally, you'll find the 1992 Batmobile from "Batman Returns" and the Delorean time machine from "Back to the Future." This museum even features an exhibit focused on powered racing cars for children.
Good to know when visiting the Petersen Automotive Museum
When visiting this museum, it's important to remember that its collection is arranged amongst 3 floors with distinctive themes. The ground floor, for example, is focused on the artistry of car design, showcasing more visually striking models. Meanwhile, the second floor is more focused on engineering education. Finally, the museum's third floor covers automotive history.
The vault containing the cars not in their permanent display isn't blocked off from visitors. You'll just need to get a special premium ticket to gain access. Additionally, a visit to this museum puts you within walking distance of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
photo by Steve Ginn (CC0 1.0) modified
Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles
Location: 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA
Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (closed Monday–Tuesday)
Phone: +1 323-930-2277
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