California pours millions into mammoth makeover of LA’s iconic tar pits

The La Brea Tar Pits are getting a $236 million cash infusion to help transform the iconic Los Angeles attraction in what officials are calling the biggest overhaul in its 50-year history.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that the revenue bond will finance major improvements across the 13-acre museum complex in Hancock Park.

The ambitious La Brea Tar Pits Reimagine Project will bring new exhibition galleries, visible research labs, expanded storage for its massive fossil collection, a theater and a rooftop terrace overlooking the famous tar pits and surrounding park.

The makeover will revamp the George C. Page Museum as officials look to give the prehistoric LA landmark a major 21st-century facelift.

“We are embarking on a once-in-a-generation reimagining of the La Brea Tar Pits, transforming this critical resource into a global hub that is more visible, accessible and essential than ever before,” Natural History Museums of L.A. County CFO Leslie Negritto said in a statement. “The new Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research sits at the heart of this transformation, and our collaboration with IBank is vital to advancing this project and preserving and modernizing one of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks.”

But not everything will change. The museum’s historic atrium and iconic exterior will be preserved, while improving accessibility to the building, according to officials.

The renovation will also make space for the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research, which will showcase fossil preparation and scientific research to the public.

The museum officially closed for its two-year renovation in July, but the surrounding park area remains open to visitors.

The museum is expected to reopen by 2028 just in time for the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A lot of the museum’s programming is expected to continue in when the museum reopens as well. Paleontologists will continue excavating fossils, maintaining the collection and carrying out research. There will also be educational programs, behind-the-scenes tours and presentations, officials said.

The California Infrastructure and Economic Development, also referred to as IBank, is providing the bond proceeds.

“This financing will help advance a landmark project that preserves a significant scientific resource while expanding opportunities for discovery and learning,” said Andy Nakahata, IBank Executive Director and CEO in a statement.

IBank was created in 1994 and its goal is to finance public infrastructure and private development that creates jobs and betters the quality of life of residents of California.

Newsom said the project reflects the state’s commitment to some of its core priorities.

“This incredible project reflects the Golden State’s lasting commitment to science, education, and ingenuity, and will inspire curiosity and learning for generations to come,” Newsom said in a statement.

The governor’s office said that the La Brea Tar Pits are one of the world’s most significant fossil sites and a leading destination for scientific research and public education.

In August, scientist identified a previously unknown extinct spadefoot toad — Spea labreae — at the La Brea Tar Pits.

L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who represents the area where the La Brea Tar Pits are located, shared what she thinks about the $236 million in financing that came through.

“At its core, this is about the impact private-public partnerships can have in investing in opportunities and shared spaces that make access to science, wonder, and exploration more accessible for all,” she said in a statement.

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