Archive: Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits

A few blocks down from 1301PE are the famous La Brea Tar Pits and George C. Page Museum. Hancock park was formed around the La Brea Tar Pits and in many ways the Tar Pits are the heart of urban Los Angeles. The first written records of the tar pits were made by Father Juan Crespi during an expedition led by Spanish explorer Gasper de Portoláin 1769. "La Brea" is spanish for 'tar' or 'asphalt.'

Image of the tar pits from 1910 with oil derricks in background.

The George C. Page Museum is part of the Los Angeles Natural History Museum. It outlines the history of the tar pits through several life-size models of prehistoric animals other paleontological finds. Of the 100 tar pits only Pit 91 is regularly excavated.

View of surrounding park

The Page museum is a good place to study various modes of display, from the mural size dioramas to the serial display of Dire Wolf skulls. The garden atrium, surrounded by glass on all four sides, is also an interesting display. It embodies the artificial manner with which the natural world and its history are presented. With the proliferation of moving images, it might seem difficult to suspend disbelief in a place like the Page museum, yet most visitors seem willing to set aside their skepticism. However, for the viewer attuned to contextualizing tactics the Page Museum is wonderfully transparent. Its outmoded strategies speak volumes to culturally-inculcated ideas that inform the way we experience everything from National Geographic to James Cameron's "Avatar."

Drawing of Dire Wolves with Columbian Mammoth and Bobcat in tar pit.

View of garden atrium from inside Page Museum

Turtles inside atrium

Skeleton of Columbian Mammoth

PageMuseum challenge

Nearby on La Brea Blvd is The Tar Pit restuarant, owned by chef Mark Peel and Jay Perrin.

Although there are many positive aspects about The Tar Pit, particularly its designer cocktails, we would have to agree with the Los Angeles Times review which states that the food is not as consistently outstanding. The Art Deco interior is lush and comfortable. It feels like a different city, perhaps New York or Chicago but certainly not Los Angeles. The restaurant also gets a bit loud on weekend nights. The best time to visit the The Tar Pit is for an after work drink on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening.


Mark Peel also owns the neighboring Campanile, which shares a building with La Brea Bakery further south on La Brea Blvd. He was also a contestant on Bravo's Top Chef Masters.