Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum is a four-floor car museum at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles, California. Its building is wrapped in a ribbon of stainless steel and red-painted panels, a 2015 redesign that makes it one of the most distinctive structures on Wilshire Boulevard. The museum traces the story of the automobile and its place in Southern California culture through more than 100 vehicles on display. Adult admission is about 21 to 25 dollars, with lower prices for seniors and students and about 15 dollars for children. Galleries present Hollywood movie cars, concept cars, motorcycles, hot rods, supercars and streamlined classics, and many rotate with special exhibits. The first floor focuses on the city and its car culture, the second floor on the history of the industry and its technology, and the third floor on performance, with a rotating selection of rare racing machines. The Vault, accessible by a separate guided tour at extra cost, holds a private collection of historic and exotic vehicles in the basement. Most visitors spend two to three hours. Crowds are heaviest on weekends and holidays, while weekday mornings are calmer. The museum sits across from LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits, so it combines easily with those sites. Metro Line 20 and 720 buses run along Wilshire Boulevard, and a paid garage is available at the museum. Car enthusiasts may wish to buy tickets online in advance to avoid lines.