La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
@tarpits
TEMPORARILY CLOSED. The Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research at La Brea Tar Pits will reopen in 2028. 🐾
No matter what changes, La Brea Tar Pits will always be home to mammoths, mastodons, and countless memories. Share yours with us! 📸 @zookeeperchase
🗣️ Time’s running out, young scholars! Debuting this September, explore how STEAM is at the heart of every aspect of our Museum—from researchers and caretakers to artists and communicators—through five resource-filled sessions. Apply now through August 15: go.nhm.org/steam-teen-c...
A small amount of carbon can give us a whole lot of information, allowing scientists to build a timeline of animals and environments that existed during Ice Age L.A by measuring traces of carbon. Discover how ancient fossils are shaping new research: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-res...
Wonder what animals of the late Pleistocene snacked on? Through examining microscopic plant fragments from the teeth of Western horse and ancient bison specimens, scientists discovered their diet consisted of leaves and twigs from Rancho La Brea. Take a closer look: go.nhm.org/horsing-around
𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺. The Tar Pits record began one-hundredth of an inch from the end of the ribbon, while in the final one-half inch, you’ll see the story of primitive man evolving to an astronaut, bridging the piece to modern-day history.
🌎 One planet, countless life stories. The 83-foot-long mural once displayed at La Brea Tar Pits depicts the history of life on Earth—from the planet’s origin five billion years ago to the present, each inch representing approximately five million years.
A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who stopped by during our final days. See you in 2028!
Thanks to our friends at the Concern Foundation for having La Brea Tar Pits and @nhm.org at their #ConcernBlockParty! Cali joined members of our Performing Arts and Research & Collections teams for a “wild” safari-themed night out, all in the name of cancer research.
While we build the future, you can still experience our exclusive La Brea Tar Pits Insider Tours and witness groundbreaking science in action daily. We’re moved by the outpouring of love and can’t wait to welcome you back in 2028. Keep up to date on the latest developments at TARPITS.org!
Since announcing our closure in April, over 150,000 of you visited us—including 18,000 on our final weekend alone!
👋 Goodbye for now! Thank you for your incredible support! As we begin our exciting transformation to reimagine La Brea Tar Pits, home of the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, we want to express our deepest gratitude.
👋 Final countdown. What message would you leave for the staff?
🦣 Our doors may be closing in a week, but the memories can last a lifetime! Shop official La Brea Tar Pits merch now through July 6 and save 25% with code TARTARFORNOW25: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-shop
🦴 It isn't always easy to identify the sex of fossil mammals. While males tend to be larger than females, it’s the variations between individuals that speak louder than size alone—such characteristics are related to sexual dimorphism.
‼️ T(ar)-minus 10 DAYS to go! 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. Experience the #TarPits in its vintage state now through July 6 before our two-year makeover! tarpits.org
🦣 To those who inspire and uplift even in the stickiest of situations. Happy Father's Day!
Discover other fossils found at the Tar Pits: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-exh...
🦥 Compared to larger sloths, the Shasta ground sloth was a smaller species with a tubular-shaped snout and fewer teeth. Their fossils are typically found in now-desert regions of the American southwest, and may have been present in L.A. during drier periods of the late Ice Age.
🤳 Look closer—spot any of your favorite Paleolithic Animals? Step back into Ice Age L.A. through the eyes of legendary American Wildlife and Paleoartist Charles R. Knight!
This Friday, June 12, step into the Ice Age—and onto the dance floor—at a free, all-ages Summer Nights party! Enjoy the museum after hours, groove along to sets from @kcrw.com DJs, grab a bite from local food trucks, and more. Save your spot: go.nhm.org/kcrw-summer-...
⏳ Just one month to go... There’s still time to make some memories before the makeover! La Brea Tar Pits closes for its two-year renovation beginning July 7, 2026. Make sure to create some #TarPits memories—tag us and share your memories before we say 𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳 for now!
Encounter the Ice Age as we dig into the past to uncover the mysteries of some of the extinct creatures who roamed Ice Age Los Angeles over 10,000 years ago! Don't miss two live performances of Ice Age Encounters today, Saturday, June 6, at 1pm and 2pm. go.nhm.org/ice-age-enco...
🌳 Ancient trees with a big story! A fossil juniper from the #TarPits reveals how Ice Age forests helped shape Earth’s climate through photorespiration—releasing CO₂ to keep things from getting to cold during the last ice age.
🪩 June 27, we’re gonna party like it’s 1977! Ahead of our 2-year transformation, join us for 𝘵𝘩𝘦 disco party of the decade before saying 𝙩𝙖𝙧-𝙩𝙖𝙧 to the Tar Pits… for now. Celebrate nearly 50 years of mammoth memories with us: go.nhm.org/last-dance Capacity limited. 70s-theme strongly encouraged!
🐾 Meet Pebbles, a rare Ice Age puma whose 32,000-year-old skull reveals L.A.’s wild past. One of few pumas found at the #TarPits, Pebbles helps scientists understand how these predators survived alongside saber-toothed cats and dire wolves: go.nhm.org/pebbles
🤞 The countdown continues... Mark your calendars and make some memories before the makeover! La Brea Tar Pits closes for its two-year renovation beginning July 7, 2026. Have you planned your visit yet?
🦣 Home to a million stories of Ice Age L.A.! What's your favorite #TarPits memory?
💜 Saber-toothed cat spotted on the purple carpet! Big thanks to @metrolosangeles for inviting Cali over for the Metro D Line Extension Grand Opening Celebration! Plenty of smiles and smilodon sightings all around. Wilshire runs deep and so does L.A. pride! When will you be taking your first ride?
🪶 #DidYouKnow: Due to their delicate nature, bird bones rarely fossilize, making their discovery at Rancho La Brea extraordinary. More than 140 species have been uncovered from the Ice Age tar seeps, 23 of which have gone extinct. Discover more and see the full list: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-birds