Information about children's museums in Los Angeles and other parts
of Southern California.
Los Angeles Children's Museums
California Science Center
This science museum in Exhibition Park has many exhibits
and programs that will fascinate and entertain children,
teens, and families, including an IMAX theater.
Located at 700 Exposition Park Drive in Los Angeles,
across the street from the University of Southern California,
Children's Museum of Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Children's Museum is in the process of moving
from its original Downtown Los Angeles Civic Center location to a
new location at Hansen Dam Recreation Park in the San Fernando Valley.
The Los Angeles Children's Museum was located
310 North Main Street in Downtown Los Angeles
when it first opened in June 11, 1979, and
it remained at that location for more then 20 years.
The North Main Street location was closed in August of 2000
and the Board of Governors planned to build a new
state-of-the-art children's museum in the San Fernando Valley.
Financial problems, including
a bankruptcy filing, have delayed the opening of the new
museum, but according to the museum Web site,
construction has been completed on a new 57,000
square foot facility and new exhibits inside the
museum are being fabricated.
Noah's Arc at the Skirball Center
One of the facilities at the Skirball Center is a children's
exhibit called "Noah's Arc at the Skirball".
The exhibit occupies an 8000 square foot museum gallery
and it features a floor-to-ceiling wooden arc filled with
stuffed animals, animal sculptures, and animal puppets,
all made with recycled materials such as bottle caps,
bicycle parts, baseball mitts, croquet balls, mop heads,
rear view car mirrors, etc. Activities for families and
children include building, climbing, making music,
and art projects.
Zimmer Children's Museum
Museum founded to promote cultural sensitivity and
community responsibility through interactive learning,
creative self-expression and art experiences for
children and families. Located on "Museum Row" at
505 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. For more
information call 323-761-8989.
Pasadena Children's Museum
Kidspace Children's Museum
This children's museum in Pasadena originally opened in 1979
on the campus of the California Institute of Technology (CalTech).
After being relocated several times, it moved to it's current facility,
on 2.2 acres of land, in 2004. The Kidspace Museum includes both indoor
and outdoor exhibits. Located at 480 North Arroyo Boulevard in Pasadena.
For more information call 626-449-9144.
Santa Ana Children's Museum
Discovery Science Center
This 58,000 square foot, hands-on science center for children
opened in December of 1998. Its most distinctive
architectural feature is "The Cube", a 10-story-high, 108-foot giant cube
located on the museum property. The Discovery Science Center
is located at the Orange County Science Center, 2500 North Main Street
in Santa Ana, Orange County. For more information call 714-542-2823
Rancho Mirage Children's Museum
Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert
18,000 square foot children's museum focused on celebrating
the cultural diversity of the Coachella Valley.
Located about two hours outside of Los Angeles at
71-701 Gerald Ford Drive in the desert community
of Rancho Mirage. For more information call
760-321-0602.
