The La Brea Tar Pits are extraordinary. I don’t know any other museum that is an active paleontological research site, where methane gas fills your nose, tar fills your outsoles (if you don’t watch your step), and discoveries are made daily, about the ice age. Crude oil seeps up from about 1,000 feet deep, and has been doing so for tens of thousands of years. The methane gas that bubbles through the thick oil pushes different fossils to the surface, aiding researchers in their studies. Since the first historic digs over a century ago, 3.5 million fossils have been excavated. No organism was spared from becoming stuck in the black goo, from mammoths to saber toothed tigers to sloths to dragonflies to miniature shells, the victims’ remains are discovered, recorded, and preserved for eternity.
Sounds like a great family adventure! As a child in elementary school, it was a popular destination for school field trips….I think I might have been in third grade when we went. From your great photos, looks like they have expanded and made lots of improvements! 👍
It’s been two decades since I was there last. It’s changed since then as well!
I am so eager to return, It has been at least two decades for us, too. What great photos and info. You are the best tour guide ever! Thanks for this. It’s on my list.
So glad we went. The museum is amazing but my favorite part is finding oil while walking around outside. What a unique place!