Mammoths and Asphalt: A Visit Down at the Pit
In early March, while on Spring Break visiting family in the LA area, I was able to visit the La Brea Tar Pits Museum. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, this museum offers a rare glimpse into what the Ice Age looked like in the regions that became the United States, with well-preserved fossils and interactive exhibits that were engaging for all of us.
My mom spent several years in LA while growing up and had always been fascinated by the tar pits, but never had the opportunity to visit. While we were out there, her one request was we make the trek into the city to check out the museum. The day we were there it was spitting rain, but walking in we already could notice the distinctive smell of the tar. The museum is famous for its active tar pits, where asphalt seeps up from the ground, trapping animals and preserving their remains for thousands of years.
I have always been intrigued by natural history, and as a child was fascinated by archeology, so having the opportunity to observe ongoing excavations was a hit for me. It is a rare opportunity to see active excavations and the continuing work of scientists at the pits speaks to the sense of living history unique to the site.
The museum itself is modestly sized but is full of fascinating displays. Seeing the various displays of fossils and the discovery of various species was fascinating, but the highlight for us was the Fossil Lab. Through the glass we were able to watch as scientists cleaned and categorized the newly unearthed fossils. The behind-the-scenes look into the process added a nice twist to the experience and reminded me of the many times as a child I enjoyed the excavation toys where I was able to use tools to dig out a small dino toy from clay, getting to pretend to be an archeologist, excavating a site.
Our wander through the museum continued through the main exhibits, which feature a wide array of fossils extracted from the tar pits, including mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and dire wolves. My brother particularly enjoyed marveling at the size of the mammoths and seeing the dire wolves. I enjoyed the thoughtful curation of each exhibit, with detailed descriptions and context, making it easy to imagine these creatures roaming the Los Angeles Basin.
Beyond the exhibits themselves, I found the language shifts in the description plaques interesting. Some, such as a timeline of the museum sponsored by a large bank, featured language to describe Indigenous communities that was outdated, while other general plaques around had since been updated to reflect shifts in accepted language choices. Seeing this reflected within the same space was really interesting to me in thinking about creating more inclusive and representative museums and exhibits for all.
Visiting the La Brea Tar Pits Museum was an enjoyable day of exploring LA for my family but was also a great educational opportunity. Its blend of active scientific research with engaging, accessible exhibits makes it a must-visit for anyone interested in history, science, or nature. This museum is not just a collection of ancient fossils; it is a dynamic institution that brings the distant past to life.