If you have a large family, museum tickets can add up fast! Below is a list of some L.A. and OC museums that offer some weekly or monthly free days. Please confirm in advance the free days with the museums, as they may be limited in numbers and/or subject to change, especially if the date is near a national or religious holiday. Also be aware that free days are sometimes quite crowded.
The Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles
At the Autry, the collections focus on Native American and Western U.S. history. Located in Griffith Park, directly across the street from the zoo, the Autry is free to the general public on the second Tuesday of every month.
Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
Founded in 1936, the Bowers Museum enriches lives through the world’s finest arts and cultures. Admission to the Family Festivals in the Key Courtyard and to Kidseum, an interactive children’s museum, is free on the first Sunday of each month. Regular museum pay admission will apply on Free Family Festival day. Bowers offers free admission to all Santa Ana residents on Sundays.
The Children’s Museum in La Habra
This museum’s mission is to encourage enthusiasm about learning in a hands-on environment that opens the world to even the youngest child. On one designated Sunday of each month, the museum offers free family days to the local community. These days feature workshops and performances. A limited number of hand stamps are given for museum entrance for 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m time slots on the day of the event and are subject to availability.
The Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles
The Craft and Folk Art Museum hosts a wide variety of exhibits. Admission is “pay what you want” on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Huntington Library in San Marino
Admission to the Huntington is free to the general public on the first Thursday of every month. Unlike many museums, however, the Huntington requires that you reserve a free ticket . Tickets become available on the first of the month preceding each free day, so you would need to reserve tickets on November 1 for the December free day.
The Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles
JANM is the largest museum in the U.S. focusing on the experiences of Japanese Americans. It is free to the public on the third Thursday of every month, and every Thursday from 5-8 p.m.
The Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena
The mission of Kidspace Children’s Museum is nurturing the potential of all children through kid-driven experiences, inspiring them to become joyful, active learners. Kidspace hosts a free family night on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-8 p.m.
The Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach
The Laguna Art Museum focuses on California art and is free to the public the first Thursday evening of every month from 5-9 p.m.
The Long Beach Museum of Art in Long Beach
This small museum has a lovely location on a coastal bluff. The collections and exhibits focus on ceramics, early 20th-century European art, and California art. Every Friday is a free admission day.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles
Since its inception in 1965, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and geography, in addition to representing Los Angeles’s uniquely diverse population. The second Tuesday of each month is free for the general public. L.A. County residents can also visit for free after 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Some federal holidays are also free.
The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach
MOLAA has free family day every Sunday. Some family days will also feature music, art workshops, storytelling, dance classes, or other activities. Free admission is also offered the fourth Friday of every month from 5-9 p.m.
The Natural History Museum in Los Angeles
From minerals to mummies to butterflies and spiders, the NHM has a lot to explore! The museum offers free admission the first Tuesday of every month (except in July and August).
The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena
The Norton Simon Museum is known around the world as one of the most remarkable private art collections ever assembled. The Norton Simon is free to the public on the first Friday evening of every month from 5-8 p.m.
The Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena
The Pacific Asia Museum’s collections focus on Asia and the Pacific Islands. It opens its doors for free on the second Sunday of every month.
The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles
The mission of this museum is to inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds.The Page Museum offers free general admission on the first Tuesday of every month (except in July and August).
The Pasadena Museum of California Art in Pasadena
The mission of the Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA) is to present the breadth of California art and design through exhibitions that explore the cultural dynamics and influences that are unique to California. The Pasadena Museum offers free admission on the first Friday of each month (12-5 p.m.) and on the third Thursday evening of each month (5-8 p.m).
The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles
The Skirball’s mission is to explore the connections between 4,000 years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals. All of the Skirball’s exhibits are free to the public on Thursdays from 12-5 p.m. The campus grounds and Ruby Gallery are always free, as is parking, and no tickets are required to access the shops or dining areas.