Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

#Educators, it’s time to save your spot! Tickets for this year's Educator Summer Conference are now available! Tuesday, June 16, join us for “The Healing Power of Nature,” a professional development conference where educators can learn healing pathways for themselves and their students using Southern California’s remarkable natural and cultural landscapes. Through hands-on workshops, outdoor experiences, and interdisciplinary sessions, educators will discuss natural disaster recovery and social competency issues while developing supportive relationships with their peers across institutions and disciplines. 🌿 Register today: https://lnkd.in/ghjWyT9T

The results are in! Across 61 countries, over 106 THOUSAND people worked together to document their nearby nature — resulting in over 3 million new, important data points for biodiversity science and observation. Click to see some highlights, and explore more: https://lnkd.in/gRUzP47W The #CityNatureChallenge is organized by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. iNaturalist

༄.° Gather up the pod... “Orcas: Our Shared Future" is now on view at #NHMLA! Through life-size orca replicas and dynamic installations, explore the powerful connections between #orcas, people, and the #oceans we share, while discovering how these intelligent, family-centered animals live, communicate, and thrive: https://nhm.org/orcas The exhibition is a joint venture between and produced by the Royal BC Museum and MuseumsPartner. Made possible in part with support from the Edgerton Foundation, The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation and JPMorganChase. Thanks to our Media Sponsors KCRW and LAist.

For Earth Day, and throughout 2026, I wish you many moments of everyday awe. As Rachel Carson reflected, "Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."  Here in Los Angeles at the Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits, communities gather daily in wonder, inspired by the natural world. Our staff, scientists, curators, historians, and educators witness that wonder every day in their work and understand its transformative power. Simple moments of awe and observation can open our minds to the deeper patterns of life, igniting future discoveries and responsibility for life on our planet.  Why awe? Because we are all equal in awe. And, as Dacher Keltner writes, it brings us “joy, meaning, and community, along with healthier bodies and more creative minds.” 

La Brea #TarPits is a uniquely L.A. experience that blends science, surprise, and discovery. For nearly a century, this site in the heart of #LosAngeles, in #HancockPark, has fascinated visitors from around the world as the world’s only active Ice Age fossil sites where discoveries are still made daily. Most of these finds are cared for inside the Museum, from towering mammoths and giant ground sloths to millions of tiny microfossils. Nearly 50 years after the museum opened, we’re running out of room! Beginning July 7, the #Museum at La Brea Tar Pits will close its doors for a two-year renovation project that will increase the spaces to house its more than two million specimens. In addition to developing a more sustainable infrastructure and improving community access to these incomparable collections, the reimagined spaces will bring even greater awareness to how the Ice Age past informs how we care for our planet today. Learn more: https://tarpits.org

༄.° Beginning April 26, dive into an unforgettable, underwater-inspired experience with “Orcas: Our Shared Future,” a brand new exhibition coming to #NHMLA! Explore the powerful connections between orcas, people, and the oceans we share through life-size orca replicas and dynamic installations, while discovering how these intelligent, family-centered animals live, communicate, and thrive. View captivating sculptures, masks, and prints by Indigenous artists of the Pacific Northwest Coast that honor the compelling relationships between orcas and Northwest Coast First Nations. Weaving together science and culture, the exhibition examines the complex lives of these fascinating animals. Members, enjoy special preview dates and see it first on April 24 and 25! https://nhm.org/orcas The exhibition is a joint venture between and produced by the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, Canada, and MuseumsPartner in Austria. Made possible in part with support from The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation and JPMorganChase. Thanks to our Media Sponsor KCRW.

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student (domestic or international) whose research would benefit from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County collections of 35+ million specimens? Apply for our Student Collections Study Award - deadline April 1st! https://lnkd.in/ggEUefc8

From the Press Room | New Study Reveals Hidden Reflectance of Bird Feathers Through the Prism of Light, Heat, and Color. Scientists at #NHMLA, UCLA, Indiana University, and California State University-Dominguez Hills, flock together to measure the reflectance of mid-infrared in bird feathers for the first time: https://lnkd.in/gTeFhU9p

☕ New year, new stories! NHM Online Presents “L.A. Culture in a Cup,” an online series celebrating the diversity of Los Angeles and its people through the lens of beverages and their significant vessels that bring us together. In a city defined by its vibrant cultures and diverse neighborhoods, we explore how the ways we share a drink tell a story of history, ritual, and connection. From dynamic cafés, juice bars, and essential community gathering spots, this project highlights the artistry of cultural drinks and the unique vessels that hold them. We showcase how these individuals and businesses go beyond the norm to build community, celebrate resilience, and embrace L.A. in unique ways. By looking behind everything from ancestral drinks like pulque to global favorites like hot sand coffee and vibrant aguas frescas, we invite Angelenos to savor flavors, craftsmanship, and histories from around the world, celebrating the creativity and community that make Los Angeles thrive. Each month, follow along for features from around town and share your own stories by tagging us—yours could be featured next: https://lnkd.in/gWKZCfuM