🍖 Hungry for History? Fossils from the #TarPits reveal the diets of saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and more—served straight from asphalt. Take a bite into prehistory: bit.ly/TarPitsPD
One of the most famous fossil localities, recognized for having the largest and most diverse assemblage of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world. Open 9:30am - 5pm daily, closed the first Tuesday of every month. http://linktr.ee/thelabreatarpits
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🍖 Hungry for History? Fossils from the #TarPits reveal the diets of saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and more—served straight from asphalt. Take a bite into prehistory: bit.ly/TarPitsPD
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. Kick off the Halloween season at our Member-exclusive Haunted Museum event at #NHMLA! Join us after-hours as the Museum transforms into a world of spine-tingling and thrilling experiences on Saturday, October 4: go.nhm.org/hauntedmuseu... 👻 Thanks to our event sponsor Zolli Candy!
🐺 Dire wolves are not just fictional—more than 4,000 dire wolves have been found at La Brea Tar Pits, which is the richest Ice Age fossil site in the world. Learn more about this extinct species that once howled through the Ice Age at TARPITS.org
👀🦣 Can you spot all 8 hunters?
🐪 Think being stuck in L.A. traffic's a drag? Try getting stuck in its 𝘵𝘢𝘳. Meet 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘶𝘴, the Ice Age camel that once roamed North America: bit.ly/AncientCamelLA
From a trip to L.A. a few years ago, the @tarpits.org Page Museum's animatronic saber-toothed cat and giant ground sloth locked in an eternally looping Ice Age death struggle never fails to spark joy
🌴 In sunny California, shade is always a hot commodity, but during extreme heat, it becomes a necessity. Discover the changing tree line of L.A. through the lens of #TarPits fossils—and the evolving presence of shade in our warming climate: go.nhm.org/tp-shade
💡 Did you know that the Tar Pits' iconic Lake Pit is a pit left over from asphalt mining operations in the late 1800s? Uncover more about the past and Ice Age L.A. at TARPITS.org!
Thursday, August 21, join us at @nhm.org’s NHM Commons Theater for a special co-presentation with PBS SoCal: a screening of the series Human Footprint, episode “Vanishing Act,” featuring the #TarPits! Free with RSVP! View the event details and save your spot today: go.nhm.org/pbs-hf
⛏️ Did you know Pit 91 is an active excavation site where Ice Age fossils are uncovered every summer? Step into L.A. prehistory and see science in action for yourself—plan your visit today: TARPITS.org
Join Dr. Shane Campbell-Staton and the #TarPits' Dr. Emily Lindsey for a special Q&A and screening of "Human Footprint", Thursday, August 21, at @nhm.org's NHM Commons Theater: go.nhm.org/pbs-hf
For decades, scientists debated whether #climate change or human hunters were to blame. However, new evidence suggests a more complex and unsettling cause: a perilous combination of warming temperatures, ecological disruption, and the spread of fires—ignited by us. youtu.be/rhvP19QNqTE
Thaaaaat's us!
The County of Los Angeles’ Chief Sustainability Office wants YOUR thoughts on their draft 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan! View the details and provide your comments now through August 22: cso.lacounty.gov/2025-ourcoun...
The #TarPits are a graveyard—and a survival story. Why some species survived while others didn’t isn’t just a mystery of the past—it’s a window into the future of life on a changing planet. Explore the stories written in asphalt: bit.ly/LBTPSurvival
If you're curious about how animals are coping with extreme heat and what we can do to help, reach out to #NHMLAC Researchers with your questions! Comment below or write to newsletter@nhm.org—we’d love to hear from you.
🐿️ Ever been so hot you just wanted to sploot? That's one way some four-legged mammals (like this California ground squirrel) keep cool. From scaly reptiles to fluffy mammals, rising temperatures are impacting wildlife across Southern California and the globe: go.nhm.org/tp-shade
🦁 Meet 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘹, the American lion and the largest big cat to ever prowl the #TarPits. Fossils from La Brea are helping scientists piece together how this giant lived, hunted, and eventually disappeared. Step into the shadow of one of prehistory’s most powerful cats: bit.ly/LBTPAL
🪰 Tiny, tough, and thriving in tar! Meet the petroleum fly, the only known insect whose entire life cycle unfolds in asphalt. Get a closer look at these extreme survivors found at the #TarPits: bit.ly/TinyToughTar
Thursday, August 21, join us at @nhm.org's NHM Commons Theater for a special co-presentation with PBS SoCal: a screening of the series Human Footprint, episode “Vanishing Act,” featuring the #TarPits! Free with RSVP: go.nhm.org/pbs-hf 🦏 Presented in collaboration with PBS SoCal.
🪽 Meet one of L.A.’s tallest prehistoric residents— the La Brea Stork! Learn more about our feathered friends and view our one-of-a-kind discoveries at the La Brea Tar Pits!
Mark Dion's uncanny installation "Excavations" continues to showcase the #TarPits’ unparalleled cultural and scientific significance through art alongside early museum materials, dioramas, and maquettes of Ice Age mammals. Explore the #pstART exhibit now through Sept. 15: tarpits.org/mark-dion-pst
🦬 Think bison are just plains animals? 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. These Ice Age heavyweights once thundered through what’s now Los Angeles—and they left their mark at the #TarPits: bit.ly/BisonHerd
Wallis Annenberg harnessed the power of shared spaces to connect us to nature and inspire wonder, responsibility, and a profound sense of belonging. We mourn and celebrate a true Los Angeles icon. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Wallis took delight in the Butterfly Pavilion and all the ways that our visitors interact with nature. She supported exhibitions such as "Becoming Jane Goodall" and "Fierce! The Story of Cats" and the opening of #NHMLA's new wing, NHM Commons.
As a long-time Trustee and supporter of the #NHMLAC, Wallis Annenberg brought her deep love of animals and nature to her support of the Natural History Museum (@nhm.org) and La Brea #TarPits.
Wallis Annenberg’s vision and generosity transformed Los Angeles. Her legacy is a civic garden she cultivated across the city, rooted in her belief in L.A.'s potential. She didn’t just support public spaces; she nourished them, investing in places that foster belonging, curiosity, and civic good.
Summer Nights returns to La Brea #TarPits & Museum TONIGHT! Enjoy free after-hours museum admission along with special programming, hands-on activities, music, local food trucks, and drinks 𝙋𝙇𝙐𝙎, “Ecos: La Brea” gaming stations! Free with RSVP. Visit TARPITS.org for full details. bit.ly/LBTPSN25
💩 Giant ground sloths once roamed Ice Age L.A., and while their size is impressive, it’s their tiny droppings that give scientists big insights! Get the scoop on sloth poop: bit.ly/SlothPoops
🦣☀️ Don't miss your last chance to enjoy science and summer vibes–all in one place with #SummerNights at the #TarPits this Friday, July 25—doors at 6PM! Free with RSVP. Save your spot: bit.ly/LBTPSN0725
🐾 Are you a saber-toothed cat person, or do you prefer to chill with giant sloths? Pick Your Summer and learn all about these polar opposite Ice Age mammals during your next trip to the #TarPits: go.nhm.org/tpsummer
😎 TONIGHT. Science, live music, activities, food trucks, Tar Bar drinks, and more collide as #SummerNights return to the #TarPits! Enjoy the Museum after-hours with special activations, Ecos: La Brea gaming stations, live discussion, and more—free with RSVP: bit.ly/LBTPSN25
☀️ This Friday, Summer Nights return to the #TarPits! July 18, the Ladies of Sound are ready to kick off your weekend with live DJ sets complete with after-hours museum admission, special programming, hands-on activities, local food trucks, gaming stations, and more! Free with RSVP: bit.ly/LBTPSN25
🦴 𝘼𝙧𝙚 #direwolves back? Dr. Emily Lindsey, Associate Curator and Excavation Site Director at the #TarPits, shares some insight about the Ice Age Angeleno that's making headlines. youtu.be/v9d1Yu3OZBw
🦣 Meet the #TarPits' resident mammoth, Zed! Catch a glimpse of the most complete Columbian mammoth discovered in the heart of LA, only at La Brea Tar Pits!
We hope you get to visit soon! 🥳🔜
We can't stop trying out the #TarPits Tar Pull 😮💨 Witness what it's like to be trapped in Tar—maybe you'll be able to escape! 👀
Museums can be places of respite, peace, and recreation, and we strive to make the Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits welcoming for all. We’re with you, L.A.
When the #JimHenson Creature Shop returns her to the #TarPits for our Ice Age Encounters show, her old fur and parts will have been reconditioned, and this 75-pound creature will have a few replacement parts to keep her going strong and feel like new! youtu.be/SotmkD3NG48
🐾 After 15 years of strenuous shows and appearances, the animatronics and mechanisms of Cali—our resident saber-tooth cat puppet—have endured a lot of wear and tear. Sections of her deteriorating fur became completely threadbare, and her eye blink even started developing an occasional wink.
Tomorrow night's discussion takes place at @nhm.org's NHM Commons Theater, followed by a cocktail reception. Save your spot today!
🐾 To those who inspire wonder and encourage curiosity. Happy Mother's Day!
🪶 Soaring over Ice Age L.A. with wingspans up to 12 feet, teratorns were the undisputed aerial giants of their time—and the largest birds ever found at the #TarPits. Discover the story of these sky kings of the Pleistocene: bit.ly/MeetTeratorn
🐘 Teachers! Saturday, May 10, join us as we head to the #LAZoo for our final Educator Workshop of the school year! Explore connections between past and modern-day animals along with Museum Educators and Excavators, hear from Zoo Keepers, enjoy a walkabout, and more! Free with RSVP: bit.ly/TPEW0525
👋 Sorry, but they’re still extinct. #NHMLAC experts weigh in on why dire wolves have not, in fact, been successfully cloned, and the surprising perils of de-extinction: bit.ly/SryDrWlvs
🐾 Are #direwolves alive again? Dr. Mairin Balisi (Augustyn Family Curator at @alfpaleo.bsky.social and Research Associate at the #TarPits) has studied dire wolves for over 15 years and published numerous papers. Listen as she shares insight about the Ice Age Angeleno. youtube.com/shorts/8KAYl...
Visit for more about these Ice Age canines! tarpits.org/topics/dire-...
Among the thousands of dire wolf specimens at La Brea #TarPits is this 𝘈𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘺𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘶𝘴 lower jaw. Known as “The Endling”—the last known #direwolf fossil on Earth—this fossil is dated to be approximately 13,082 years old. See the fossil now on view in our Fossil Lab!
Dire? Yes. Wolves? Not so much. While dire wolves may be the talk of the town, the #TarPits Collections includes specimens of more than 4,000 real dire wolves, including a bone that belonged to the last known dire wolf in North America: tarpits.org/topics/dire-...
How familiar are you with the #TarPits of the world? The B.R.E.A.S Team is currently in the field sharing insights into Trinidad’s unique fossil record, complete with fossil prep workshops at UWI Zoology Museum. 💡 Follow along with the team on social for updates along the way!
🔬 This Saturday, Apr. 12, join the #NHMLAC in Exposition Park for SoCal’s largest festival of science and creativity! #CityOfSTEM and L.A. Maker Faire have joined forces for another all-day event tailor-made for scientists, makers, engineers, creators, and explorers of all ages: cityofstem.org
🗣️ Calling all homeschoolers! Thursday, April 10, join us for Homeschool Day at the #TarPits! Learn how La Brea's asphalt seeps preserve not only a few fossils but an entire ecosystem, enjoy drop-in crafts and activities, explore the Ice Age Mobile Museum, and more! RSVP today: bit.ly/LBTPHD0410
🌎 From the extraordinary research happening behind the scenes and in the field to the incredible community science happening in our backyards at La Brea #TarPits and @nhm.org, we party 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 day like it's #EarthDay: nhm.org/earthmonth
Learn more about these Ice Age survivors here: bit.ly/coyotes-howl...
One of the most abundant mammals found at the #TarPits, Coyotes are one of the most visible throughlines between L.A. and the region’s past. Coyotes from the Ice Age were significantly greater however their descendants have developed a suite of survival skills that have aided in their survival.
Read more about this fascinating discovery here: bit.ly/47etvFw?utm_source=NHMLASocial 📷 Paleo Art: Cullen Townsend
Why did the Ice Age titans go extinct? Using a method devised for dating fossils preserved in asphalt, a team of 19 scientists obtained over 170 radiocarbon dates on #TarPits fossils. This helped determine when different species disappeared from the ecosystem and start to ask: why?
"This the best Ice Age fossil site anywhere in the world, and it's in the middle of Los Angeles.” Thanks to Roadside America for featuring La Brea #TarPits & Museum as their “Sight of the Week”: bit.ly/RoadsideLBTP
Lindsay Nikole is the best👏👏
Last call, Educators! Tomorrow, March 15, join us for a special Educator Workshop on Prehistoric Preservation! Learn about the unique ways fossils at the #TarPits are preserved and how our processes compare to others across the world: bit.ly/LBTPEW0315
🔬 Saturday, March 22, join us for Girls in STEM Day at the #TarPits! This 1-day event is an opportunity for youth ages 8-18 to participate in STEM activities, meet #STEM professionals, and explore future career paths in a fun and engaging way: bit.ly/GirlsInSTEM0... Thanks to Program Sponsor LADWP.
Are you an Educator? Saturday, March 15, join us for a special workshop on Prehistoric Preservation! Learn about the unique ways fossils at the #TarPits are preserved and compare those with other preservation processes—from cultural to natural—across the world. Save your spot: bit.ly/LBTPEW0315
Discover Ice Age L.A. on us. The #TarPits Museum is excited to participate alongside over 30 institutions in this year’s @socalmuseums.bsky.social Free-for-All Day on Sunday, March 16! Will we see you on #FreeMuseumDay? Advance tickets are required—save your spot today: bit.ly/LBTPFFA25
🦴 Science Communicator Lindsay Nikole digs into the Quaternary Period—the time of the ice age, agricultural revolution, and so much more, including highlights from her visit to the #TarPits! youtu.be/nJvurIUKz34
FINAL DAY. Teachers, get ready to explore native plants with Special Guest Speaker Tawny De Guzman from Community Nature Connection during a live, webinar-style program on Tuesday, February 25! bit.ly/Ethnbtny0225
🌱 Everything starts with plants. Did you know there are two different species of Juniper found at the #TarPits? Learn how our paleobotanists have been piecing fossilized plants together and as a result, have found a number of exciting things about this seed mystery: tarpits.org/stories/solv...
Teachers, get ready to explore native plants with Special Guest Speaker Tawny De Guzman from Community Nature Connection during a live, webinar-style program on Tuesday, February 25! Tune in with your class to learn about plants native to Los Angeles, plus Q&A. RSVP: bit.ly/Ethnbtny0225
Today through February 28, enjoy #BlackHistoryMonth workshops, art exhibits, music, storytelling, and community activities that honor the achievements, contributions, and resilience of Black Americans: parks.lacounty.gov/bhm
🔬 Are you an Educator/#Teacher? February 11, meet one of our research staff who specializes in ancient plants in this webinar-style program! Tune in as your students learn from and submit questions to our guest speaker during this live, virtual presentation. RSVP: bit.ly/LBTPLive0211
🦴 Ever wonder how the Ice Age has been preserved in the heart L.A.? Senior Preparator Laura Tewksbury shares how #TarPits fossil discoveries came to be!
Explore new and early works of the #TarPits Museum through Artist Mark Dion's installation, "Excavations"! Now on view through September 2025.
The museum at La Brea Tar Pits is closed today (January 29) due to a maintenance issue. We apologize for the inconvenience tarpits.org
The museum at La Brea Tar Pits is closed today, January 27, due to a maintenance issue. We apologize for the inconvenience. tarpits.org
#Educators! Join us this Saturday as we explore the role and significance of math in #paleontology careers with our "Paleontology by the Numbers: Math at the #TarPits" workshop! Free to RSVP—save your spot today: bit.ly/LBTPEW0125
February 6, join Zócalo Public Square and Carnegie California at NHM Commons for “How Can Our World Rethink Climate Mobility?” as panelists discuss what it would take to build a more interconnected, resilient, and nomadic world on the international, community, and individual levels: bit.ly/ZPSRCM25
🐾 What is the role and significance of math in paleontology careers? How can visiting the #TarPits support math learning for students? Join this weekend’s Educator Workshop and explore how measurements support our research with Scientist Alberto Cruz and Excavator Laura Tewksbury: bit.ly/LBTPEW0125
🫧 Aye, aye, Cap’n! Cheers to our friend #SpongeBob who dropped by to surprise Museum visitors today! Were you able to snap a photo with him? Don’t forget—General Admission for #NHMLA and @tarpits.bsky.social is free now through tomorrow, Friday, January 17. We love you, L.A.!
The #TarPits Museum and @nhmla.bsky.social have reopened indoor spaces with free general admission now through Friday, January 17. Full statement regarding the #NHMLAC in the thread below. tarpits.org nhm.org
We are holding all of you in our hearts during this devastating time for Los Angeles. Based on the information we have now, we are pleased to offer free general admission at #NHMLA and @tarpits.bsky.social through Friday, January 17. nhm.org tarpits.org
We hope our museums can serve as spaces of respite, offering comfort and connection with our natural and cultural worlds, while also providing enjoyable and engaging indoor experiences.
In the wake of these devastating fires, we understand that many Los Angeles children are unable to attend school.
In addition to free educational experiences, we've collaborated with L.A. County Parks & Recreation to bring our Mobile Museums to community parks providing emergency youth camps this coming week. We're also welcoming students from impacted communities to our museums for field trips.
The health and safety of our staff and visitors remains our top priority. We will continue to assess the situation day by day. #LAStrong
The park at La Brea has been reopened for neighborhood use, but the #TarPits Museum will remain closed. Stay tuned for updates at TARPITS.org and here on social media.
#NHMLA is reopening its indoor spaces this weekend with free general admission on Saturday and Sunday, January 11 and 12: nhm.org Full statement regarding the #NHMLAC below.
Los Angeles County is reeling from a tremendous disaster that still threatens us. Our sense of safety, stability, and comfort have been shaken, and each of us is impacted by and reckoning with this situation in different ways.
Our museums have been closed since Wednesday in order to prioritize the health and safety of both our staff and visitors.
In the spirit of our commitment to being a community resource, we are reopening #NHMLA to the public this weekend with free general admission to offer our indoor spaces as a place of respite and for comfort and connection with our natural and cultural worlds.
We are also reopening the park at La Brea Tar Pits for neighborhood use; the #TarPits Museum will remain closed. Please visit NHM.org and TARPITS.org for more information and how to plan a visit.
Museums cannot compensate for the horror and grief so many of us are experiencing right now. We cannot replace homes or solve for the human suffering of this past week.
As museums committed to the care and keeping of our natural and cultural worlds, what we can do is provide a space for solace, address our grief for the ecological devastation, and convene our community and scientists to help each other learn and heal.
From everyone at our museums to everyone in Los Angeles, our hearts are with you. ❤️
Impacted by the LA County wildfires? Use this list of resources to begin the recovery process: recovery.lacounty.gov/resources
For a list of updated evacuation shelters for the LA County Wildfires and other up-to-date information, please visit lacounty.gov/emergency
The health and safety of our staff and visitors are our utmost priority. As our region continues to be impacted by devastating fires, extended red flag warnings, and evacuations, #NHMLA and @tarpits.bsky.social will remain closed today, Friday, January 10.
In an ongoing effort to keep our visitors and staff safe during the unpredictable conditions brought about by the wind storms and fires devastating our region, the #TarPits and @nhmla.bsky.social will remain closed today, Thursday, January 9.
Out of an abundance of caution for our visitors and staff amid severe conditions throughout Los Angeles, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum and @nhmla.bsky.social will be closed today, Wednesday, January 8.
#TarPits Researchers Identify a Mysterious #Fossil Seed to Reveal New Chapters in L.A.’s Climate History: bit.ly/FossilSeed
🎄 Hoping to visit the #TarPits Museum this holiday season? Plan accordingly! Tuesday, Dec. 24: Open Wednesday, Dec. 25: Closed Tuesday, Dec. 31: Open Wednesday, Jan. 1: Closed Tuesday, Jan. 7: Closed tarpits.org
🦣 Our Ice Age icons are prepping for the holidays! Swipe to see their top gifting picks this holiday season. 🎁 Shop in-store and online! View the full Holiday Gift guide at shop.nhm.org. #giftguide #holidays #tarpits
