Updated: April 2024
It’s May 18th and everyone knows what that means! Okay, so you probably don’t, but allow us to illuminate you: it’s International Museum Day! As the name suggests, this day is aimed at honoring the spirit of museums the world over. And what better way to do that than list off some of the free museums Los Angeles citizens (or visitors to the city) can enjoy? Almost every museum in Los Angeles (and there are plenty of them) provides free entry. You just need to know when to go. But before we get to that, let’s learn a bit more about International Museum Day.
The Brief History of International Museum Day
Museums are more than a beacon for school field trips and awkward first dates. But to draw much needed attention to these galleries of the human experience, something needed to change. That’s why in 1977, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) held the first International Museum Day.
Every year, International Museum Day picks a new theme. Admittedly, these aren’t that varied. For example, last year’s theme was “The Future of Museums” while this year’s is “The Power of Museums.” Vague themes aside, was ICOM’s mission to boost awareness with their own international day a success? If the majority of you are just now hearing about it, probably not. But this doesn’t diminish the importance of museums in our society.
The Museum as a Sanctuary
Benjamin Franklin once wrote that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” It may be an exaggeration, but life can certainly have that feeling. Museums are one of the few resources we can rely on in our society that challenges that grim idiom. Even the brokest, most down-on-their-luck amongst us can find a free day at some museum or another. The amount of free museums Los Angeles offers borders on an embarrassment of riches.
Like art? We’ve got The Broad, The Getty, and LACMA just to name a few.
What about science? There’s the California Science Center, Natural History Museum, and the Griffith Observatory for starters.
You’ll find a small army of museums focused on cultural heritage, art and history. Just look to La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, the Japanese American National Museum, or the USC Pacific Asia Museum.
There are even museums honoring the romance of the natural world. The LA County Arboretum, Descanso Gardens, and South Coast Botanic Gardens are perfect examples.
Some of these museums are always free. Some are only free museums Los Angeles residents can enjoy during certains hours. And some are only free on certain days of the week or month. We did our best to untangle this scheduling in the following guide to the free museums Los Angeles offers. We hope you find something that inspires you!
Free Museums Los Angeles Residents and Visitors Can Enjoy
This list compiles the free museums Los Angeles offers that remain admission-free during all of their hours of operation. Keep in mind, these museums keep their own hours. We’ve included the days of operation for each museum, though these are subject to change. We’ve also tried to specify which museums require reservations.
- The Broad – (free every Tuesday through Sunday – reservation required)
- California African American Museum – (free every Tuesday through Sunday)
- California Science Center – (free every day – reservations required)
- Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum – (pay what you can every day – reservations required for tours)
- El Segundo Museum of Art – (free every Monday through Friday by appointment only and Saturday with no appointment necessary)
- FIDM Museum & Galleries – (free every Tuesday through Saturday but only open during exhibitions)
- Forest Lawn Museum – (free every Tuesday through Sunday)
- Fowler Museum at UCLA – (free every Wednesday through Sunday)
- Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art – (free every Wednesday through Sunday)
- The Getty – (free every Tuesday through Sunday – reservation required)
- Getty Villa – (free every Wednesday through Monday – reservation required)
- Griffith Observatory – (free every Tuesday through Sunday)
- Hammer Museum – (free every Tuesday through Sunday)
- Hauser & Wirth – (free every Tuesday through Sunday – West Hollywood lopcation only open Tuesdays)
- Hollywood Bowl Museum – (free every Tuesday through Friday)
- Institute for Contemporary Art Los Angeles – (free every Wednesday through Sunday)
- La Plaza de Cultura y Artes – (free every Wednesday through Sunday)
- MOCA Grand – (free every Tuesday through Sunday)
- Nethercutt Museum – (free every Thursday through Saturday)
- Travel Town Museum – (free every day)
- Torrance Art Museum – (free every Tuesday through Saturday)
- USC Fisher Museum of Art – (free every Tuesday through Saturday)
- Vincent Price Art Museum – (free every Tuesday through Saturday)
- The Wende Museum – (free every Friday through Sunday)
Museums Conditionally Free to Los Angeles Residents
This brief list compiles museums offering free admission with proof of Los Angeles residence during limited hours. While these museums recommend bringing a government-issued ID, they will likely accept utility bills too.
- La Brea Tar Pits & Museum – (free to LA County residents with valid ID from 3pm to 5pm, Monday through Friday)
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) – (free to LA County residents with valid ID after 3pm every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County – (free to LA County residents with valid ID from 3pm to 5pm every Monday through Friday)
Los Angeles Museums That Offer Free Days During the Week or Month
Our final list compiles museums that don’t typically offer free admission. However, these museums offer free days during the week or month when guests are admitted free of charge. We’ve broken them down by day. Ironically, none of these free days fall on International Museum Day. But if you’re looking for something to do on the holiday itself, check our list above of permanently free museums Los Angeles offers.
Sunday
- Craft and Folk Art Museum – (pay what you can every Sunday)
- Holocaust Museum LA – (free every Sunday)
- Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) – (free every Sunday – 11am – 5pm)
- Santa Monica History Museum – (free every 1st Sunday)
- USC Pacific Asia Museum – (free every 2nd Sunday)
Tuesday
- Autry Museum of the American West – (free every Tuesday – 1pm – 4pm)
- Descanso Gardens – (free every 3rd Tuesday – reservations required)
- Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden – (free every 3rd Tuesday – reservations required)
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) – (free every 2nd Tuesday)
- South Coast Botanic Garden – (free every 3rd Tuesday)
Wednesday
- Autry Museum of the American West – (free every Wednesday – 1pm – 4pm)
Thursday
- Huntington Library – (free every 1st Thursday – reservations required)
- Japanese American National Museum – (free every Thursday, 5pm – 8pm and all day every 3rd Thursday)
- Martial Arts Museum – (free every 1st Thursday, 3pm – 6pm)
- Skirball Cultural Center – (free every Thursday, noon – 5pm)
- USC Pacific Asia Museum – (pay what you can every Thursday)
Friday
- Norton Simon Museum – (free every 1st Friday, 4pm – 7pm)
