Welcome to La Brea Tar Pits & Museum in Los Angeles, a site that has captured the imagination of people for more than a century. The tar pits are a natural wonder that dates back to the last ice age, where tar seeped up from the ground and trapped animals that came to drink. Today, visitors can explore the museum and the excavation sites, and see some of the amazing fossils that have been uncovered.
The La Brea Tar Pits are located in the heart of Los Angeles, surrounded by the city’s skyscrapers and bustling streets. It’s hard to believe that such an unusual and ancient landscape could exist in the middle of a modern city. The tar pits themselves are formed by oil that has seeped up from the ground for tens of thousands of years, creating a sticky, gooey substance that trapped animals that roamed the area. The animals that got stuck in the tar were then preserved over time, creating a treasure trove of fossils that give us a glimpse into the prehistoric past.
One of the most fascinating things about the La Brea Tar Pits is the sheer number of fossils that have been uncovered. More than 5 million fossils have been excavated from the site since the first excavations began in the early 1900s. These fossils include mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and many other animals that lived during the last ice age.
The museum at La Brea Tar Pits is a great place to start your exploration of the site. It features exhibits that showcase some of the most impressive fossils that have been discovered, as well as interactive displays that help visitors understand the science behind the excavations. You can even watch paleontologists at work in the Fossil Lab, where they clean and study the fossils that have been found.
One of the most impressive exhibits at the museum is the Wall of Ice Age Predators. This display features life-size models of some of the most fearsome animals that roamed the area during the last ice age, including a saber-toothed cat and a giant short-faced bear. The models are incredibly realistic, giving visitors a sense of what it must have been like to come face-to-face with these powerful creatures.
Another must-see exhibit is the Project 23 excavation site. This is an active excavation site that is still yielding new fossils today. Visitors can watch as paleontologists carefully remove fossils from the tar, and learn about the techniques that are used to uncover these delicate remains. The site is called Project 23 because it encompasses 23 pits that are being excavated in order to uncover as many fossils as possible.
If you’re looking for a more hands-on experience, the La Brea Tar Pits also offers a variety of family-friendly activities. The Tar Pits Pleistocene Garden is a great place to start. This outdoor exhibit features replicas of some of the plants that grew in the area during the last ice age, as well as a variety of animals that would have lived in the region. You can even touch some of the fossils and learn about the different kinds of tar that were formed over time.
For younger visitors, the Page Museum offers a variety of programs and events that are designed to engage children in the wonders of paleontology. The Junior Scientist program is a popular option, allowing kids to participate in hands-on activities and experiments that teach them about the science behind the excavations.
In conclusion, the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum is an incredible destination that offers visitors a unique glimpse into the prehistoric past. The museum features some of the most impressive fossils that have been uncovered at the site, and the active excavation site gives visitors a chance to see paleontologists at work. Whether you’re a fan of history or science, this is the perfect place to spend a weekend family getaway at.