Hi guys!

I wanted to show you some fun museum tours I did toward the end of 2023 that you may want to explore if you live or are ever visiting the Los Angeles area. I love being educated and seeing history come alive!

Enjoy! 🙂

Rose Bowl – Pasadena

I toured the Rose Bowl as they were prepping for the game with Alabama vs Michigan. During the tour, I saw the locker rooms, tunnels, press box areas, the field, Locker Room Hall of Fame and the new California High School Hall of Fame. It was fun to see what historic games were played at the Bowl!

Public tours are 1 1/2 hours and held the last Friday of every month at 103am and 1230pm. Admission cost is $20.

Los Angeles Police Museum – Highland Park

I highly recommend touring the Los Angeles Police Museum! The Highland Park location is the first station in all of LA County and holds  crime artifacts and exhibits dating back to the 1900s! I really enjoyed seeing the Charles Manson and Family letters, mugshot photos and fingerprints and the North Hollywood Shootout from 1997 – they eve had the suspect’s car on display! There’s also a helicopter out back, other squad vehicles, jail cells and highlights from TV Shows such as Adam’s 12 – you just have to go. I even bought a small K9 stuffed animal with a vest!

Admission is $10 and reservations or walk-ins happen on Wednesdays – Saturdays between 10:30am – 3:30pm.

Fair Oaks Pharmacy – South Pasadena

Fair Oaks Pharmacy is a staple in South Pasadena. It has been around since 1915 and still has the original soda fountain (I got myself a Root Beer Float). There is also novelties, candy and other fun items to purchase from the 1960s – 1990s. It’s a must see!

Admission cost is free. Check here for various hours. 

USC Pacific Asia Museum – Pasadena

The USC Pacific Asia Museum is literally across the street from my apartment. It was established in 1971 and is one of the few museums in the U.S. dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. The collection has about 15,000 objects from prints to sculptures and it is truly remarkable.

Admission cost is $10 for a 2 hour tour. Hours are Wednesdays – Sundays from 11am – 5pm.

Gamble House – Pasadena

Everyone knows the Gamble House as Doc Brown’s House from “Back to the Future.” The craftsman style house was once the residence of David and Mary Gamble until their deaths in the 1920s. The house has a lot of Japanese art inspirations along with different types of woodwork throughout and custom-made furniture. 

Admission cost is $10 for a 1 hour tour. Hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays – Sundays from 10am – 4pm. 

Note: Only still photos are allowed, no videos!

Rubel Castle – Glendora

This is probably one of the most unique experiences I have ever seen in my life! Rubel Castle was built by Glendora resident Michael Rubel between 1968 – 1986 with river rock, recycled materials and relics and artifacts from Glendora’s industrial and agricultural days. Rubel lived here until his passing in 2007 and was turned into a museum years later. 

Admission cost is $20 (cash only). I suggest viewing the hours and tour dates here because it varies.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures – Los Angeles

Who wouldn’t want to tour the largest collection of movie and Oscars in one spot at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures?! It literally took me over 3 hours to see the whole thing with 5 different levels! The museum has everything from costumes and scripts to photos and of course, Oscars! There’s even exhibits for The Godfather, John Waters: Pope of Trash (until August 2024), Boyz N The Hood and Casablanca.

Admission cost is $25. The museum is open every day except Tuesdays from 10am – 6pm. 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) – La Canada Flintridge

This is an absolute must if you are a space geek. JPL offers free public tours that last about 2 1/2 hours and allows visitors to view the von Karman Visitor Center, Space Flight Operations Facility and Spacecraft Assembly Facility. Mission Control was probably my favorite part of the tour!

There are only a limited number of tickets and you have to check the website to see the date and time when they are released. I highly recommend “stalking” the site the day of, they will sell out fast!

Have fun! 🙂