Petersen Automotive Museum

• Best Museum in the Los Angeles area

• Petersen Automotive Museum
  6060 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles CA 90036
  Tel: (323) 930-2277
  Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm

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On June 11, 1994, Robert E. Petersen and his wife, Margie, fulfilled a longtime dream when they became founding benefactors to start the Petersen Automotive Museum, donating $5 million to the LA County Natural History Museum. In April, 2000, the Petersens contributed an additional $24.8 million to the LA County Natural History Museum to establish the Petersen Automotive Museum as an independent nonprofit organization. Overall, their gifts to the Petersen Automotive Museum total over $30 million, one of the largest gifts to any museum in the US. The Petersen Automotive Museum, recognized internationally for its innovative design, is dedicated to the interpretive study of the automobile and its influence on our culture and lives. Encompassing over 300,000 square feet and spanning four floors, its exhibits and lifelike dioramas feature more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles. The 1st floor traces the history of the automobile. Visitors are invited to walk through exhibits and dioramas, and experience settings of early Los Angeles where the world's first shopping district was designed. The 2nd floor is composed of five large changing exhibition galleries with state-of-the-art displays of race cars, classic cars, vintage motorcycles, concept cars, celebrity and movie cars, and automotive design and technology. The May Family Children's Discovery Center is located on the 3rd 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 4th floor, which is available for special events and functions.

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