We all love LACMA, and The Getty Center is always great, especially when you need to entertain out-of-town guests. But sometimes it's fun to branch out. LA is full of cool, unusual, and off-the-beaten track museums that are definitely worth a visit. From cryptic collections to interactive experiences, neon light tours, and even an institution dedicated to bunnies, here are some fascinating museums you've never heard of but need to check out now!

Museum of Jurassic Technology 9341 Venice Blvd. Culver City, California 90232

The Museum of Jurassic Technology is an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic. This cryptic statement is left uncertain and unexplained. And that's just the point! The museum contains a provocative mixture of artistic, scientific, ethnographic, and historic, as well as some unclassifiable exhibits, and the diversity of its offerings evokes the cabinets of curiosities that were the 16th-century predecessors of modern natural history museums. The factual claims of many of the museum's exhibits strain credibility, so take it all in with a grain of salt and have fun!

Museum of Neon Art 216 S Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA 91204

The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) is the only museum in the world devoted exclusively to art in electric media, exhibiting electric and kinetic fine art, and outstanding examples of historic neon signs, for over three decades. MONA encourages learning, curiosity and expression through the preservation, collection and interpretation of neon, electric and kinetic art. A gateway between scientific principles and artistic expression, Neon illumination integrates electrical technology, creative design, and fundamental concepts of physics and chemistry. MONA hosts Saturday night Neon Cruises – a nighttime bus tour of neon signs, movie marquees and permanent installations of contemporary neon art through Downtown and Hollywood.

A+D Architecture and Design Museum 900 East 4th St. Los Angeles, CA 90013

A relatively new addition to the DTLA Arts District, A+D is the only museum in Los Angeles where continuous exhibits of architecture and design are on view. Through exhibits, symposia, multi-disciplinary projects, educational and community programming, A+D serves as a showcase for the work of important regional, national and international designers, providing a forum for contemporary issues in architecture, urbanism, and design that are helping to shape the city. 

Museum of Illusions 6751 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

The Museum of Illusions comes Instagram ready with completely new 3D Illusions and an Upside Down House exhibit that will take your breath away, transporting you to a world of fantasy and imagination! The 30+ 3D illusions produce eye popping pics, inspired by cartoon, art, current events, movies and more! Not just that, the Upside Down House features 7 unique rooms all flipping the world as you know it, upside down! Flash photography is not just allowed, it’s encouraged. The Museum of Illusions is created by some of the world’s best artists, with new exhibitions being added often, so act fast to see them all.

FIDM Museum and Library 919 South Grand Avenue, Suite 250 Los Angeles, CA 90015

The FIDM Museum and Library collects, preserves, and interprets fashion objects and support materials with outstanding design merit. It fosters student learning, public engagement, and recognition of the creative arts and entertainment industries by providing access to the collections through exhibitions, publications, and other research opportunities. Thanks to thousands of generous donors, the FIDM Museum Collections currently hold over 15,000 objects covering more than 200 years of history. Their current exhibiton is the 28th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design, which  showcases the very best of film design and celebrates the talented artisans who bring movie characters to life.

Wende Museum 10808 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA 90230

The Wende Museum presents a fascinating look at the Cold War through its collection of artwork, artifiacts, archives, films, and personal histories from Cold War–era Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union relating to the period 1945–1991. The museum is named for the Wende (pronounced “venda”), a German word meaning “turning point” or “change," that has come to describe the transformative period leading up to and following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The Wende Museum illuminates the past and informs the present through creative collaborations with contemporary artists and designers, and stimulates general interest through lectures, symposia, and publications.

The Bunny Museum 2605 Lake Ave. Altadena, CA 91001

Bunnies aren't just for Easter! The Bunny Museum is a world record-holding museum dedicated to rabbits that first opened to the public in 1998. Founded by Steve Lubanski and Candace Frazee, who as a couple are called Lubunnzee, The Bunny Museum tells the history of bunnies in advertising, art, entertainment, fashion, film, and everyday vernacular. Got dust bunnies in your home? Do you know what bunnies have to do with math? Have you ever heard of a rabbit plane? Have you ever eaten a Welsh Rabbit? Hop on over and find out. The Bunny Museum has 37,039 bunny objects to date. ALERT: This museum is not recommended for pre-school children. Children are welcome, but they are not the target audience. 

The Velaslavasay Panorama 1122 West 24th St. Los Angeles, CA 90007 

Drawing on the illustrious history of the great panorama paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries, The Velaslavasay Panorama is an exhibition hall, theatre and garden dedicated to the production and presentation of unusual visual experiences, including those of the 360-degree variety. The Velaslavasay Panorama panoramic exhibition encircles the spectator within a fully enveloping atmosphere. A vast painting of a continuous surrounding landscape, accompanied by sound stimulation and three-dimensional elements, affords the viewer an opportunity to experience a complete sensory phenomenon.

Velveteria: The Museum of Velvet Art 711 New High St. Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Velveteria is a velvet painting museum located in Chinatown, curated by owners Caren Anderson and Carl Baldwin. The museum features over 420 paintings culled from the couple's 3,000 piece collection, gathered from every corner of the world. An ancient technique, velvet painting is thought to have originated in Kashmir, the homeland of the fabric. Traditional paintings were generally religious and portrayed the icons of the Caucasus region. Marco Polo and others introduced black velvet paintings to Western Europe, and some of these early works still hang in the Vatican Museum. In 20th century America, black velvet paintings attained full-on cult status, depicting imagery from pop culture, such as the classic "Velvet Elvis."

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Museum of Neon Art

Photo #2: Museum of Jurassic Technology

Photo #3: Museum of Neon Art

Photo #4: A+D Architecture and Design Museum

Photo #5: Museum of Illusions

Photo #6: FIDM Museum and Library

Photo #7: Wende Museum

Photo #8: The Bunny Museum

Photo #9: The Velaslavasay Panorama

Photo #10: Velveteria: The Museum of Velvet Art

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