‘Museums Free for All’ is back: Here are 40 museums you can visit

Photo from lacma/Instagram

Ready for your next museum escapade? Mark your calendars next month. “Museums Free for All” is back in SoCal with 40 museums presenting art, film, natural history, science and culture free of charge.

Arts and cultural FOMO no more as this wallet-friendly event makes its grand comeback on March 23, 2024. Temporarily side-tracked by the pandemic, this annual event returns this year just as we all bid winter adieu and welcome spring.

“We are thrilled, once again, to invite visitors from across Southern California to see the remarkable range of art, cultural heritage, natural history, film, and science that our museums and cultural organizations have to offer,” said SoCal Museums President and Marketing Associate Alexa Nishimoto.

What’s the catch? None, although parking fees may apply and some exhibits might require advanced reservations. But main attractions are free for many museums along the Museum Row and Miracle Mile.

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Participating SoCal museums, all free admissions

• Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (Reservation encouraged)
• American Museum of Ceramic Art (Reservation required)
• Armory Center for the Arts
• Autry Museum of the American West (Reservation required)
• Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College
• Bowers Museum
• The Broad (Advanced reservation encouraged)
• California Botanic Garden
• California Science Center
• Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum
• Catalina Museum for Art & History
• Cayton Children’s Museum
  (Advanced reservations are required. Visit caytonmuseum.org to make a reservation)
• Columbia Memorial Space Center
• Craft Contemporary
• Forest Lawn Museum
• Fowler Museum at UCLA
• Frederick R. Weisman of Art, Pepperdine University
• The Getty Center
  (Timed tickets are required for The Getty Center. Visit getty.edu to make a reservation)
• The Getty Villa
  (Timed tickets are required for The Getty Villa. Visit getty.edu to make a reservation)
• GRAMMY Museum
• Hammer Museum
• Holocaust Museum LA
  (Reservations required. Visit holocaustmuseumla.org)
• Institute of Contemporary Art, LA
• The International Printing Museum
• Japanese American National Museum
  (Advance tickets strongly recommended. Visit janm.org to make a reservation)
• Laguna Art Museum
• La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
  (Advance tickets required. Visit tarpits.org to make a reservation)
• LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
• Lincoln Memorial Shrine
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
  (Advance tickets are required. Visit lacma.org to make a reservation)
• The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
  (Advance tickets are recommended. Visit moca.org to make a reservation)
• Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
• Museum of Ventura County
• Orange County Museum of Art
• Santa Barbara Museum of Art
• Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
  (Advanced reservations encouraged. Visit www.sbnature.org Sea Center not included)
• Santa Monica History Museum
  (Visit santamonicahistory.org to make a reservation)
• Skirball Cultural Center
  (Advance tickets strongly recommended. Visit skirball.org to make a reservation)
• Wende Museum
• Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum

Tips for your museum trips

For planning efficiency, you might want to visit each museum’s website for reservation details. Before heading into this cultural and arts cornucopia, plan your museum visit accordingly — crowds are expected so reservation is advised. 

If your parking spot’s far, head down to the Museum Row and you can hop from LACMA to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum easily.

Or if you like a more urban vibe, let DTLA’s charm lead you from The Grammy Museum to The Broad and have a side detour at the Japanese American National Museum.

After all, a hassle-free itinerary will make your adventure more unforgettable.

“Museums Free for All” in SoCal promises a journey through the wonders of culture, arts and science. Check here for more info.