The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, a beloved Los Angeles institution for nearly half a century, will close its doors on July 6 for an extensive two-year renovation. The ambitious project is the first significant overhaul in the museum’s history, with plans to reopen ahead of the 2028 L.A. Olympic Games.
Before the closure, the museum will host a free public KCRW Summer Nights event on June 12 and a private, disco-themed dance party for members on June 27, offering a final opportunity to experience the iconic space in its current form. The renovation is timed as its neighbour, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), opens its new David Geffen Galleries, marking a period of significant cultural enhancement for the city.
The overhaul is part of a larger, multi-year initiative known as the "Reimagine" project, led by the architecture firm Weiss/Manfredi. The goal is to better integrate the museum with the surrounding 13-acre Hancock Park and to create a more cohesive campus experience with the adjacent LACMA.
Lori Bettison-Varga, president and director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC), which oversees the Tar Pits, says the project will improve the flow between the cultural sites. “We’re excited about bringing the entire campus together, and our part of it is really important to making it feel like you can easily move from LACMA over into the Tar Pits,” she said.
A reimagined visitor experience
The redesigned Page Museum will feature significant upgrades, including a new northwest entrance to improve accessibility, expanded visible research labs, and more extensive displays of its vast collection. Visitors will also be able to experience an immersive theatre and a new rooftop terrace with views overlooking Hancock Park.
Opened in 1977, the museum was designed by architects Frank Thornton and Willis Fagan. Its unique design, burrowed into the earth with grass-covered walls, has made it a distinctive feature of the Miracle Mile landscape. The new design aims to honour the original vision while modernizing the facility to better showcase its scientific importance.
We’re going to have this more accessible, state-of-the-art museum that really tells the story of Ice Age Los Angeles and its relevance today in a way that it currently doesn’t. All of this is about placing it in the context of relevance for today, not just a window into the past.
The project emphasizes the Tar Pits’ role as the only active paleontological research site in a major urban centre anywhere in the world. Bettison-Varga noted the renovation will highlight the site’s value in understanding historical climate change. "It’s telling us about ecological and climate change that happened in the recent past and what we can learn from it," she says. The broader Reimagine project also includes the new Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, announced in January.
History seeps from the ground
The La Brea Tar Pits have been an invaluable scientific resource since formal research began in 1913. The asphalt seeps have preserved millions of Ice Age specimens, from massive saber-toothed cats and mammoths to tiny insects and plants, providing an unparalleled record of life in the region over the last 50,000 years. The current museum collection holds more than two million of these priceless artifacts.
The land itself, originally part of the 4,400-acre Rancho La Brea, was donated to Los Angeles County in 1924 by its final owner, George Allan Hancock, with the mandate that the fossils be preserved and exhibited for the public. The site was designated one of the first National Natural Landmarks in 1964. In 2022, the International Union of Geological Sciences named it one of the first 100 global Geological Heritage Sites, recognizing its international significance.
The Reimagine project has a fundraising goal of $240 million and has already secured over $131 million. The investment underscores the city's commitment to bolstering its cultural institutions, a trend also seen in the region's struggling infrastructure, where Tacoma school completes $7.8M energy efficiency upgrade.
What to expect during the closure
While the Page Museum building closes, the work of the Tar Pits will not entirely disappear from public view. Hancock Park will remain partially open throughout the construction, with new walking paths and outdoor features to be introduced in phases. Most importantly for science enthusiasts, active paleontological excavations will continue on site and remain visible to the public from different viewing points.
Bettison-Varga assured the community that the renovation will preserve the site's most beloved features. This includes the iconic fiberglass frieze depicting Ice Age mammals, the mammoth family statues in the lake pit, and the grassy hills that have become a popular spot for families. It’s "a good reminder for everyone to come see the vintage, iconic La Brea Tar Pits before the Page Museum closes,” she quipped.
Furthermore, the organization’s educational outreach will continue. The grant-funded La Brea Tar Pits Mobile Museums will carry on visiting schools and public spaces across Los Angeles County, ensuring that the story of Ice Age L.A. remains accessible even while its main hub undergoes its transformation. As the city battles ongoing challenges like new wildfires in Los Angeles County, these green and educational spaces remain vital community assets, and interested parties are often reminded that the public urged to speak now on important issues.
