Exploring the Hidden World of Los Angeles’ Small Museums
# Exploring the Unique Museums of Greater Los Angeles
Los Angeles has established itself as a global art capital, home to world-renowned institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and The Getty. However, beyond the high-profile museums, LA harbors a rich ecosystem of smaller, often overlooked museums, offering fresh perspectives on art, history, and culture.
In *Also on View: Unique and Unexpected Museums of Greater Los Angeles* (2024), author Todd Lerew explores the city’s vast and varied museum scene, highlighting unconventional spaces that celebrate diverse communities, unique collections, and the personal passions of Angelenos.
## A Diverse and Expansive Museum Landscape
According to Lerew, Greater Los Angeles boasts over 750 museums—more than any other U.S. city—spanning Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties, as well as parts of the Inland Empire. While some are nestled inside traditional institutions, others can be found in high schools, strip malls, and even restaurants.
Lerew’s inclusive definition of museums allows him to showcase hidden gems that reflect LA’s dynamic cultural tapestry. From collections documenting Armenian and African American heritage to institutions dedicated to streetlights and railways, these museums preserve stories often excluded from mainstream narratives.
## Museums That Elevate Communities
One of the book’s most important contributions is its focus on museums that celebrate historically marginalized communities.
– **The Ararat-Eskijian Museum** is dedicated to Armenian-American history and has preserved Armenian art and cultural artifacts for over 25 years. Founded by Luther Eskijian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, this museum features paintings by artists such as André “Darvish” Sevrugian and Jirayr Zorthian.
– **The African American Miniature Museum**, curated by artist Karen Collins, brings Black history to life through 50 intricately crafted shadow boxes. These miniature dioramas depict key moments in African American history, from the civil rights movement to the Black Lives Matter protests.
## Showcasing LA’s Physical and Pop Culture History
Beyond cultural heritage, LA’s museums also reflect the city’s geography and cultural evolution.
– **The Valley Relics Museum**, located in two airplane hangars at Van Nuys Airport, is a haven for pop culture lovers. Its neon signs and vintage memorabilia tell the story of LA’s fast-changing landscape.
– **The Street Light Museum** collects nearly 400 unique designs of street lamps that have lit up the city’s roads for over a century.
– **The Southern California Railway Museum** preserves the legendary Pacific Electric Red Car trolleys, once a vital part of LA’s extensive transit system before cars took over the cityscape.
## Museums Built on Personal Passion and Eccentricity
Many of these museums stem from the deep personal interests of individuals who have dedicated their lives to collecting and preserving unique histories.
– **The Museum of Jurassic Technology**, founded by MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient David Wilson in the 1980s, is an enchanting labyrinth of curiosities that blend fact and fiction. Its exhibits range from Russian space dogs to medieval bestiaries, challenging visitors’ perceptions of history and science.
– **Velaslavasay Panorama**, a restored historic cinema, revives the lost 19th-century art of large-scale moving panoramas, combining visual art with narration and immersive sound.
## Confronting the Past: Reevaluating Museum Collections
One standout institution in *Also on View* is the **Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park**, which has begun reexamining its collection’s origins. Founded in the early 20th century by artist Howard Arden Edwards, some of its artifacts were acquired through questionable practices, including grave robbing. In recent years, the museum has worked to repatriate objects to Native communities and consult with Indigenous groups on exhibit development.
## Celebrating the Hyper-Local
In a world where cookie-cutter art fairs and massive institutions often dominate cultural conversations, the museums highlighted in *Also on View* remind us of the importance of locally-rooted storytelling. As Lerew states, “These objects wouldn’t make sense under the same roof… they are better off left in the place from which they originate or with the people they directly represent.”
Los Angeles’ hidden museums offer more than just exhibits—they are windows into the city’s multifaceted history, testaments to underrepresented narratives, and proof of the power of personal and communal storytelling. Whether you are a resident or a visitor, exploring these unique spaces offers a deeper connection to the rich cultural fabric of Southern California.
### *Also on View: Unique and Unexpected Museums of Greater Los Angeles* by Todd Lerew, with photography by Ryan Schude, is published by Angel City Press and available at local bookstores and online retailers.