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

The post LA Museums You’ve Never Heard of But Need to Check Out Now! appeared first on The Mansfield at Miracle Mile Blog.

The successful commercial district known as the Miracle Mile is not the only miracle on this swath of Wilshire Boulevard! When Los Angeles County Art Museum (LACMA) opened its doors in 1965, other cultural institutions followed suit, and Museum Row was born. The anchor of Museum Row is LACMA. Travel west to Fairfax, where you'll see the The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures / May Company Wilshire, scheduled to open next year. Across the street, you can't miss the eye-popping Peterson Automotive Museum. The half block east of LACMA is occupied by La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, and across the street you'll find the Craft Contemporary (formerly the Craft and Folk Art Museum). Further east, Museum Row continues to expand its horizons with the Marciano Art Foundation, which opened in 2017. 

Los Angeles County Art Museum (LACMA) 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of more than 142,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.

La Brea Tar Pits & Museum 5801 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Experience the world’s only active, urban Ice Age excavation site! Long before the 405, sky scrapers, and the Hollywood sign, mammoths, saber-tooth cats, dire wolves, giant sloths, and more roamed Ice Age Los Angeles – and were excavated right here at La Brea Tar Pits. What lies beneath the surface at the world famous La Brea Tar Pits? Step inside the museum to see massive ground sloths, towering mammoths, and snarling saber-toothed cats—some of the most spectacular fossils ever found at the Tar Pits. Watch scientists prepare specimens in the Fossil Lab, and then see these incredible fossils on display in the surrounding galleries.

La Brea Tar Pits Second Home Pavilion 5801 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 

While you're at the Tar Pits, explore the rainbow tunnels of this immersive, temporary structure where art and science meet. Second Home Serpentine Pavilion by SelgasCano at La Brea Tar Pits is a standout architectural creation. Each of the rainbow tunnels takes you on different journey. There are multiple ways to wander, and many entrances and exits, but they all emanate from a center area where you'll be immersed in stained glass light. The pavilion experience shifts from day to night—natural light seeps through translucent walls by day, and glowing lights illuminate its colors and surfaces once the sun goes down.  

Craft Contemporary 5814 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Located on Los Angeles’ historic Miracle Mile since 1965, Craft Contemporary (formerly the Craft and Folk Art Museum) reveals the potential of craft to educate, captivate, provoke, and empower. With a focus on contemporary art made from craft media and processes, Craft Contemporary presents dynamic exhibitions by established and emerging artists and designers who are often underrepresented in larger art institutions. Through a robust roster of regular programs and events, Craft Contemporary offers creative opportunities for the public to participate in hands-on workshops led by professional artists. Craft Contemporary cultivates an environment for people in Los Angeles to deepen their relationship to art, creativity, and one another. 

The Wende Museum Berlin Wall Memorial 5900 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

The Wende Museum's Wall Project is a unique, multi-faceted media and public art initiative organized by The Wende Museum in 2009 to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. To mark the occasion, the museum brought ten original Berlin Wall segments to Los Angeles, installed them at 5900 Wilshire Boulevard, and invited established and emerging artists to reflect upon history and paint five of the ten segments. Measuring nearly forty feet long, The ten wall segments form the longest stretch of this iconic historical monument outside of Berlin. The wall memorial remains in place on the front lawn of the 5900 Wilshire Building, where it continues to attract hundreds of visitors every day.

Edward Cella Art and Architecture Gallery 6018 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Although technically not a museum, Edward Cella Art and Architecture presents high-quality exhibits of world-famous artists and architects that make the gallery a worthy stop along Museum Row. Their newest exhibition is Fail Better, the gallery’s first solo show from Los Angeles based artist Lester Monzon. Representing a progression in his exploration of graphs and expressive gestures; Monzon illustrates concepts of historical painting techniques and destroys and rebuilds areas of the painting that once were there. Through playing with graphs, abstractions and erasures he questions where mental liberation and freedom can exist in a structured existence. 

Petersen Automotive Museum 6060 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

American automotive museums have come and gone, but until publishing magnate and philanthropist Robert E. Petersen and his wife Margie opened the Petersen Automotive Museum, there was no central location in which to celebrate the entirety of automotive history, industry, culture and artistry in Los Angeles, the most car-centric city the world has yet known. In 2015, the museum underwent an extensive $90 million renovation. The building’s façade was redesigned by the architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, while designers at The Scenic Route configured interior spaces to accommodate changing exhibits that are intended to encourage repeated visits. The exterior features a stainless-steel ribbon assembly, made of 100 tons of 14-gauge type 304 steel in 308 sections, 25 supports and 140,000 custom stainless-steel screws!

Marciano Art Foundation 4357 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90010

The Marciano Art Foundation (MAF) was established by Maurice and Paul Marciano to grant the public access to the Marciano Art Collection through presentations of rotating, thematic exhibitions housed in a permanent exhibition space in Los Angeles. MAF inaugura ted it permanent exhibtion space in LA's Windsor Square neighborhood in 2017. With more than 100,000 square feet of space, the building was originally a Scottish Rite Masonic Temple designed by Millard Sheets in 1961 and was fully repurposed and renovated by Kulapat Yantrasast of wHY in its new role as a contemporary art space. The building’s unique characteristics allow for exhibitions in a variety of both traditional and unconventional exhibition spaces, as it was the Foundation’s intent to maintain and preserve Sheets’ original architectural design and layout as much as possible. In addition to the various interior gallery spaces, MAF also features climate-controlled art storage, a bookstore, a café, an outdoor sculpture garden and on-site parking.

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