iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 26/09/2026

Digging through the archives! Do you have a favorite #TarPits memory? 📸 @paleohyun

Instagram user @paleohyun taking a selfie with the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum sign.

Harlan's ground sloth previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

Instagram user @paleohyun taking a photo in front of the dire wolf wall previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 21/09/2026

New fossils are discovered daily and the number of new fossils from Project 23 is in the millions, enough to double the collections!

Fossil crates from La Brea Tar Pits' Project 23.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 21/09/2026

Millions of fossils. 23 Boxes. One epic dig. Located in Hancock Park, Project 23 is an ongoing excavation where staff scientists and volunteers work on excavating 23 boxes of fossil deposits discovered in 2006 during the construction of an underground parking garage.

Volunteers excavating fossil deposits from Project 23.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 07/09/2026

But these fossils tell us more than stories of the past. They can help answer questions about how climate change, human activity, and extinction have shaped—and continue to shape—animals and ecosystems today and into the future. go.nhm.org/tar-pits-res...

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 07/09/2026

Fossil deposits from the Tar Pits provide a remarkable record of life in the Los Angeles region toward the end of the Pleistocene epoch. Because many specimens are unusually well preserved, scientists can study animals that disappeared thousands of years ago in remarkable detail.

Museum paleontologists excavating fossils.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 01/09/2026

A look back into our pre-closure past. Have you shared your #TarPits memories with us yet? 📸 @dinoguy128

IG user dinoguy128 taking a photo with the short faced bear statue previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

Camelops hesternus previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

American mastodon previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 25/08/2026

The fossil record at La Brea Tar Pits is shaped by many factors including preservation, excavation, and what specimens survive over time. These conditions can reveal new insights and even reshape what we previously understood about the ecology and environment of Ice Age Los Angeles.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 20/08/2026

Today, the site is undergoing a major reimagining that will bring new exhibition spaces, research facilities, and opportunities to experience science in action as the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research at La Brea Tar Pits, slated to open in 2028!

Construction of the George C . Page Museum in 1977.

Interior construction of the George C. Page Museum in 1977.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 20/08/2026

After decades of discoveries, the George C. Page Museum opened its doors in 1977, bringing the incredible fossils of La Brea Tar Pits to the public.

Columbian mammoth fossil mounting during the George C. Page Museum construction.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 17/08/2026

Thanks to this protective coating, over 100 species of birds—like the Ancestral California Condor and Merriam's Giant Condor—have been uncovered at the site.

Fossil display of Merriam's Giant Condor previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

Fossil display of an Ancestral California Condor previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 17/08/2026

🐦 Although fossil birds are a rare find due to their fragility, bird bones found at La Brea Tar Pits were surrounded with liquid asphalt that kept them in a remarkable state of preservation.

Ralph W. Schreiber Hall of Birds at La Brea Tar Pits.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 13/08/2026

A #TarPits researcher reconstructed forests of 56 million years ago against a backdrop of elevated atmospheric CO₂, global warming, and reduced rainfall triggered by volcanically driven carbon release—and trees are at the root of these drastic changes: go.nhm.org/paleocene-eo...

Fragments of fossilized leaves like these helped the authors recreate the forest canopies of 56 million years ago. Photo by Dr. Regan Dunn.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 06/08/2026

No matter what changes, La Brea Tar Pits will always be home to mammoths, mastodons, and countless memories. Share yours with us! 📸 @zookeeperchase

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 04/08/2026

🗣️ Time’s running out, young scholars! Debuting this September, explore how STEAM is at the heart of every aspect of our Museum—from researchers and caretakers to artists and communicators—through five resource-filled sessions. Apply now through August 15: go.nhm.org/steam-teen-c...

Staff from La Brea Tar Pits examine microfossils with program participants.

Staff from La Brea Tar Pits examine formations in Project 23 with teen participants.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 27/07/2026

A small amount of carbon can give us a whole lot of information, allowing scientists to build a timeline of animals and environments that existed during Ice Age L.A by measuring traces of carbon. Discover how ancient fossils are shaping new research: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-res...

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 24/07/2026

Wonder what animals of the late Pleistocene snacked on? Through examining microscopic plant fragments from the teeth of Western horse and ancient bison specimens, scientists discovered their diet consisted of leaves and twigs from Rancho La Brea. Take a closer look: go.nhm.org/horsing-around

Fossil Western horse previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

Plant fragments removed from fossilized teeth.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 21/07/2026

𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺. The Tar Pits record began one-hundredth of an inch from the end of the ribbon, while in the final one-half inch, you’ll see the story of primitive man evolving to an astronaut, bridging the piece to modern-day history.

"The Evolution of Life on Earth" mural previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 21/07/2026

🌎 One planet, countless life stories. The 83-foot-long mural once displayed at La Brea Tar Pits depicts the history of life on Earth—from the planet’s origin five billion years ago to the present, each inch representing approximately five million years.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 16/07/2026

A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who stopped by during our final days. See you in 2028!

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 13/07/2026

Thanks to our friends at the Concern Foundation for having La Brea Tar Pits and @nhm.org at their #ConcernBlockParty! Cali joined members of our Performing Arts and Research & Collections teams for a “wild” safari-themed night out, all in the name of cancer research.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 07/07/2026

While we build the future, you can still experience our exclusive La Brea Tar Pits Insider Tours and witness groundbreaking science in action daily. We’re moved by the outpouring of love and can’t wait to welcome you back in 2028. Keep up to date on the latest developments at TARPITS.org!

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 07/07/2026

Since announcing our closure in April, over 150,000 of you visited us—including 18,000 on our final weekend alone!

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 07/07/2026

👋 Goodbye for now! Thank you for your incredible support! As we begin our exciting transformation to reimagine La Brea Tar Pits, home of the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, we want to express our deepest gratitude.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 07/07/2026

👋 Final countdown. What message would you leave for the staff?

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 01/07/2026

🦣 Our doors may be closing in a week, but the memories can last a lifetime! Shop official La Brea Tar Pits merch now through July 6 and save 25% with code TARTARFORNOW25: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-shop

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 01/07/2026

🦴 It isn't always easy to identify the sex of fossil mammals. While males tend to be larger than females, it’s the variations between individuals that speak louder than size alone—such characteristics are related to sexual dimorphism.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 26/06/2026

‼️ T(ar)-minus 10 DAYS to go! For nearly 50 years, La Brea Tar Pits has been one of L.A.'s most beloved treasures, and it's about to become something even more extraordinary. Experience the #TarPits in its vintage state now through July 6 before our two-year makeover! tarpits.org

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 21/06/2026

🦣 To those who inspire and uplift even in the stickiest of situations. Happy Father's Day!

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 16/06/2026

Discover other fossils found at the Tar Pits: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-exh...

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 16/06/2026

🦥 Compared to larger sloths, the Shasta ground sloth was a smaller species with a tubular-shaped snout and fewer teeth. Their fossils are typically found in now-desert regions of the American southwest, and may have been present in L.A. during drier periods of the late Ice Age.

Fossil of the Shasta ground sloth on Display at La Brea Tar Pits.

Skeletal Structure of the Shasta ground sloth (above), Image of the Shasta ground sloth (below).

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 11/06/2026

🤳 Look closer—spot any of your favorite Paleolithic Animals? Step back into Ice Age L.A. through the eyes of legendary American Wildlife and Paleoartist Charles R. Knight!

A portion of Charles R. Knight's painting of the interpretation of the La Brea Tar Seeps.

Charles R. Knight's interpretation of the La Brea Tar Seeps on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 08/06/2026

This Friday, June 12, step into the Ice Age—and onto the dance floor—at a free, all-ages Summer Nights party! Enjoy the museum after hours, groove along to sets from @kcrw.com DJs, grab a bite from local food trucks, and more. Save your spot: go.nhm.org/kcrw-summer-...

A DJ takes to the turntables at a public after-hours event at La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 06/06/2026

⏳ Just one month to go... There’s still time to make some memories before the makeover! La Brea Tar Pits closes for its two-year renovation beginning July 7, 2026. Make sure to create some #TarPits memories—tag us and share your memories before we say 𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳 for now!

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 06/06/2026

Encounter the Ice Age as we dig into the past to uncover the mysteries of some of the extinct creatures who roamed Ice Age Los Angeles over 10,000 years ago! Don't miss two live performances of Ice Age Encounters today, Saturday, June 6, at 1pm and 2pm. go.nhm.org/ice-age-enco...

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 04/06/2026

🌳 Ancient trees with a big story! A fossil juniper from the #TarPits reveals how Ice Age forests helped shape Earth’s climate through photorespiration—releasing CO₂ to keep things from getting to cold during the last ice age.

Image of the Pit 3 Tree from the original Hancock excavations at La Brea Tar Pits.

The Pit 3 Tree currently on display as part of Mark Dion's Pacific Standard Time exhibit Excavations, as part of an 'uncovered diorama'.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 04/06/2026

🪩 June 27, we’re gonna party like it’s 1977! Ahead of our 2-year transformation, join us for 𝘵𝘩𝘦 disco party of the decade before saying 𝙩𝙖𝙧-𝙩𝙖𝙧 to the Tar Pits… for now. Celebrate nearly 50 years of mammoth memories with us: go.nhm.org/last-dance Capacity limited. 70s-theme strongly encouraged!

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 26/05/2026

🐾 Meet Pebbles, a rare Ice Age puma whose 32,000-year-old skull reveals L.A.’s wild past. One of few pumas found at the #TarPits, Pebbles helps scientists understand how these predators survived alongside saber-toothed cats and dire wolves: go.nhm.org/pebbles

Puma concolor skull LACMP23-32433 ready for research.

Preparator Sean Campbell holding Pebbles just after it was excavated.

Fossil Lab Manager Stephany Potze holding Pebbles.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 22/05/2026

🤞 The countdown continues... Mark your calendars and make some memories before the makeover! La Brea Tar Pits closes for its two-year renovation beginning July 7, 2026. Have you planned your visit yet?

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 18/05/2026

🦣 Home to a million stories of Ice Age L.A.! What's your favorite #TarPits memory?

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 08/05/2026

💜 Saber-toothed cat spotted on the purple carpet! Big thanks to @metrolosangeles for inviting Cali over for the Metro D Line Extension Grand Opening Celebration! Plenty of smiles and smilodon sightings all around. Wilshire runs deep and so does L.A. pride! When will you be taking your first ride?

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 07/05/2026

Friday, June 12, step into the Ice Age (and onto the dance floor) at an all-ages Summer Nights party with @kcrw.com and the #TarPits! Explore the Museum after hours, groove to DJ sets, enjoy food trucks, and more. Make memories before our makeover begins! Free to RSVP: go.nhm.org/kcrw-summer-...

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 07/05/2026

🪶 #DidYouKnow: Due to their delicate nature, bird bones rarely fossilize, making their discovery at Rancho La Brea extraordinary. More than 140 species have been uncovered from the Ice Age tar seeps, 23 of which have gone extinct. Discover more and see the full list: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-birds

The La Brea Condor displayed at the La Brea Tar Pits.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 28/04/2026

#DidYouKnow: Fossil plant material from Rancho La Brea consists of wood, leaves, cones, seeds, and microscopic remains of diatoms—some from the immediate area, while others may have been transported by floodwaters or streams. Learn more on our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/watch?v=cDk4...

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 24/04/2026

Each La Brea seep is its own Ice Age time capsule. As asphalt emerged at different times, different ecosystems were trapped, preserving life thousands of years part in neighboring pits like 3, 4, and 61/67, pictured here. Dig deeper into our excavations: tarpits.org/experience-t...

An Image of pit 61-67 from April 15, 1914.

Two men working in pit 4 from December 29, 1913.

A man pumping out a flooded cave in pit 3 from January 26, 1914.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 13/04/2026

In two weeks, join us as we celebrate the paperback release of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures” with a special after-hours event at the #TarPits! go.nhm.org/climate-danc...

Hearts and stars on a rich warm background with text "April 25. 6PM / Climate Dance Party AT LA BREA TAR PITS".

A portrait of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.

Visitors dance at a museum after-hours event.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 09/04/2026

🐾 Sink your teeth into a new era! For nearly 50 years, La Brea Tar Pits has been one of L.A.’s most beloved treasures, and it's about to become something even 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 extraordinary—thread.

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 06/04/2026

🐪 Every day is hump day for 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘶𝘴. Sometimes known as "yesterday's camel," this extinct species was thought to be closely related to the living llamas from South America—but recent DNA evidence suggests that it is probably ancestral to Old World camels: go.nhm.org/ancient-camel

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 26/03/2026

Wonder what it's like to go behind the scenes at La Brea #TarPits? Watch as Kid Scientist Dee gives you a sneak peek of our Insider Tour! See all available dates and book your tour today: go.nhm.org/tar-pits-tour

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 24/03/2026

🌎 Saturday, April 25, join us to celebrate the paperback release of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures” at a special after-hours event at the #TarPits! Tickets and full event details: go.nhm.org/climate-danc...

Text "CLIMATE DANCE PARTY / APRIL 25, 6PM @ LA BREA TAR PITS / HOSTED BY AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON" with logos for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum beside imagery of the paperback edition of "What If We Get It Right"?

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La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 23/03/2026

🌱❄️ Dig into the past (literally). Learn how to plant your own Ice Age Garden and help preserve 60,000 years of biodiversity, no time machine required: go.nhm.org/PlantingIceAge

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