La Brea Tar Pits Secures 236 Million Dollars in Bonds for Its 240 Million Dollar Rebuild
The state closed the financing on August 14, while the museum itself stays closed until roughly 2028.
The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank closed a 236.03 million dollar revenue bond on August 14, 2026 for the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Foundation, issued through IBank's Conduit Bond Program, primarily to support the La Brea Tar Pits Reimagine project.
The broader plan is a transformation of the 13 acre site backed by a 240 million dollar capital campaign goal, of which over 131 million had been raised. The plan centers on the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, plus a new Wilshire Boulevard entrance, an expanded theater, visible fossil preparation and collections areas, and a planned one kilometer triple pedestrian loop across the site. WEISS/MANFREDI is design lead with Gruen Associates as executive architect and landscape architect. The state projects roughly 2,270 jobs.
The museum building and public indoor experiences are closed during construction, while select Hancock Park outdoor areas and excavation sites remain accessible, with access changing as construction proceeds. The full campus reopening, including the Page Museum, is anticipated in 2028.
Need to know
- Where
- 5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
- Hours
- Museum building and indoor experiences closed during construction; select Hancock Park outdoor areas and excavation sites remain accessible. Insider Tours listed for Fridays 11:00 AM and Sundays 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM; schedule may vary.
- Price
- General admission suspended during the closure. Insider Tour 125 dollars adult, 105 dollars child, 100 and 80 dollars for members. Ages 7 and up.
Source: La Brea Tar Pits