The actual museum building is relatively small, compared to say, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art which is located about 50 yards away. [Check out our story on LACMA] . What it lacks in sheer size, it makes up for in content -- covering some 40,000 years of history in a very concise, compact package.

The 25th anniversary celebration seemed to be working well. Along with the special activities outside, they were also offering a special children's admission --- 25 cents.

Admission Prices:
Adults: $6.00
Seniors 62 and older and Students with I.D.: $3.50
Children 5-10 years old: $2.00
Members and Children under 5: Free

The building is roughly rectangular with the exhibit space surrounding a large plant and fauna filled atrium. The building feels large and open, and has lots of skylights, but at the same time it does feel dated. With chunky concrete walls, dark wood trim, and burnt orange accessories, the interiors most definitely scream late '70's.

The main lobby looks into the atrium space. It is also the entrance and exit as well as the museum gift shop. And it's a one way trip so to speak - walk in one side, exit out the other. With all the visitors waiting in line to get tickets it was quite crowded, hectic and pretty noisy.

A very helpful museum staff member greeted us, and she quickly explained the benefits of being a museum member, directed us to the proper ticket location, and overall, just added a welcoming vibe. Turns out that the helpful person is Dyan Sublett, Sr. VP for Advancement - Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County [of which the The Page Museum is part].

 

The exhibits work well in most cases. Large-scale recreations of Mammoths - both in reconstructed fossil-bone form, and as animatronics - were well presented. Smaller, hands on exhibits, one allows visitors to test the sticky strength of the tar pits tar, were even better. Two small theatres were showing films, but we passed on both of them.

A collection of about 400 skulls of the 1600 dire wolves that lost their lives in the tar pits.

Visitors can walk by an area where new fossils are being cleaned for future exhibit.

Although some of the exhibits are nicely interactive, much of the museum is pretty straightforward. In that, you walk to an exhibit, and either read or look at an item before moving on to the next exhibit space.

This aspect adds to the overall dated feel. It's kind of like a really good history book published in 1977 -- The material is still valid and correct, but the kids in the pictures look funny with their bellbottoms, puka shell necklaces and earth shoes, and so it loses some credibility. The Page could definitely use a little updating and freshening up.

Back out to the busy lobby, we made an attempt to browse through the museum store without getting trampled [did I mention it was crowded?]. Some books about the tar pits, and some pins, key chains, and embroidered patches featuring a good looking logo [did I mention I was into logos?]. Megan picked a splush Saber-Tooth cat. Di and I opted for the cloth patches.