Enjoying the Smell of Gurgling Pits

La Brea Tar Pits - Los Angeles, California

Spending a day in Los Angeles last December allowed us to make a quick "Pin Stop" at a place that I think I had first seen in the movie Volcano several years ago (yes, that Volcano with Tommy Lee Jones!). If I recall correctly, the La Brea Tar Pits were featured as the initial place where the volcano of LA first made its presence known by making the already bubbling pits even more bubblier(?).

Main La Brea Tar Pit

Our stop here came in the middle of a regular Monday - where we parked in the paid parking lot across the street to the park.  I was pleasantly surprised that the La Brea Tar Pits were more than just a fenced-in tar pit but rather a larger space and museum that was spread out in Hancock Park, providing ample opportunity to walk around and enjoy.

As we entered the park, the first thing we took notice of was the smell.  The tar pits emitted a strong smell through the area from the methane gas that is expelled through its gurgling bubbles.  The pits are fully fenced in with some playful statues of mammoths and mastodons to help illustrate how these prehistoric animals may have interacted with and got stuck in the pits.  As you walk further around the park, you'll find other smaller pits and excavation sites where researchers are continuing to discover fossil remains of sabertooth tigers and other early animals.  We saw many tar-covered fossils that were on display in a still-active dig site.

Page Museum

In addition to the surrounding park area, the Page Museum is also located here, where you can learn more about the history of the pits and animals that roamed the region.  Unfortunately, we did not have the time to take in the museum at this time, and I'm sure it's worth a stop in the future.



Pin Stops Ranking: 4 Pins

An interesting landmark and park to visit if you're looking for something unique and historical in Los Angeles.  The city seems have to have done a nice job preserving the area, so people can enjoy the history of the place.