The George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits is closing its doors on July 7 for an extensive renovation that will last approximately two years. Ahead of the closure, the museum is hosting a 1970s-themed farewell party, dubbed “Last Dance at La Brea Tar Pits,” on Saturday night, featuring music, dancing, food, drinks, and a costume contest.
The museum's closure marks the beginning of a $240 million project, the most significant overhaul in its nearly 50-year history. The renovation aims to transform the museum with new exhibition galleries, visible research laboratories, expanded collections storage, a theater, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the tar pits and surrounding park. The project will also preserve the historic atrium and iconic exterior while improving overall accessibility.
A key addition will be the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, where visitors will eventually be able to observe fossil preparation and scientific research. Despite the museum building's closure, the surrounding park, including active excavation sites and the lake pit, will remain accessible to the public throughout the construction.
During the approximately two-year renovation, paleontologists and researchers will continue their work, including excavating fossils, curating the museum's collection of 3.5 million Ice Age fossils, and conducting scientific research. Educational programming will also persist through behind-the-scenes tours, presentations, and the La Brea Tar Pits Mobile Museum's visits to schools and community events across Los Angeles County.
The renovation is funded through a combination of public and private contributions, including a $40 million gift from the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation. Los Angeles County is also partnering to finance improvements to the county-owned landmark. Officials anticipate the reimagined campus, including the new research center, will reopen in 2028, in time for the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
